Kelsey Barnard Clark

Kelsey Barnard Clark (born April 28, 1989[1]) is an American chef. In 2019, she won season 16 of Top Chef.

Early life and education

Clark was raised in Dothan, Alabama.[2] She attended the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, and worked at Cafe Boulud and Dovetail.[3]

Career

In 2012, she started a catering business in Dothan, and then a restaurant, KBC.[3][4] In 2019, she won season 16 of Top Chef, as of 2024 the only southerner to win the show.[3][4][2] In 2020, the Alabama Tourism Department named one of KBC's sandwiches to their list of 100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama.[4] In 2024, she was a semifinalist for a James Beard Award for Best Chef:South.[5][2][6] She was one of the judges in the 2025 TV series "Next Gen Chef".[7]

In January 2026, Clark was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after allegedly driving her vehicle into and demolishing a brick mailbox; she reportedly struggled and refused to complete field sobriety tests while at the scene. [8] Her two children, ages 8 and 5, were present at the crash and were driven home by a family member upon Clark's booking at Dothan City Jail.[9][10]

Cookbooks

She has published two cookbooks, Southern Grit (2021) and Southern Get Togethers (2024).[3][6]

References

  1. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2026-03-14.
  2. ^ a b c Evans, Sid (24 September 2024). "Kelsey Barnard Clark Has Always Wanted A Home With A Crowded Table". Southern Living. Archived from the original on 2025-04-02. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  3. ^ a b c d Everett, Richard (2025-02-06). "Dothan chef appears on ABC's Good Morning America". WDHN. Archived from the original on 2025-02-08. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  4. ^ a b c Allen, Chad (2020-06-05). "The Bama at KBC restaurant is one of 100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama". Alabama News Center. Archived from the original on 2025-04-02. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  5. ^ Everett, Richard (2024-03-12). "Dothan chef named a semi-finalist for coveted culinary arts award". WDHN. Archived from the original on 2024-04-03. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  6. ^ a b Corte, Michael La (2025-03-06). "When it comes to hosting, this "Top Chef" doesn't "do fussy." Here's how to enjoy easy entertaining". Salon. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  7. ^ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt37694105/
  8. ^ Carol Robinson (January 22, 2026). "Top-Chef-Winner-Charged-With-DUI". AL.com.
  9. ^ Ken Curtis (January 22, 2026). "Young-Children-Rode-With-Kelsey-Clark". WTVY.
  10. ^ https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2026/01/24/kelsey-barnard-clark-arrest-dui/88338342007/
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