Andy DehnartSeattle appears to be the location of Top Chef‘s 10th season, as location scouts–and host Padma Lakshmi–have been spotted around the city.
This isn’t a surprise: In February, the city said the show was considering it, but only if Seattle paid $200,000 to $300,000. Last season, San Antonio paid $200,000 to be featured in several episodes, and Texas paid $600,000 for the privilege of hosting the show.
Padma was spotted eating at a restaurant yesterday. A few days earlier, location scouts were spotted in Melrose Market, and earlier, Seattle Met reported that sources connected to the show confirmed that it would be set in Seattle, and an anonymous commenter said they’d leased a building to the show in Redmond, Wash., although the site notes there’s a “persistent rumor that Seattle and Portland might share the season, a la San Antonio, Dallas and Austin.”