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Accidentally on Purpose

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By Kristen Kish

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$30.00

Price

$39.00 CAD

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  1. Hardcover $30.00 $39.00 CAD
  2. ebook $14.99 $19.99 CAD
  3. Audiobook Download (Unabridged) $27.99

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Accidentally on Purpose dives into Kristen Kish’s childhood as a Korean adoptee in the Midwest, finding purpose in kitchens, and becoming the season 10 winner of—and now the Emmy-nominated host—of Top Chef, coming out in her adult years, and all the life lessons in between.

Kristen Kish could never have imagined her career trajectory—not when she was a carefree softball-tossing kid, not in high school working at a pretzel stand, not even, briefly, as a working model. And definitely not when she finally found her true calling as a chef. In those early days, becoming a chef meant tethering oneself to a restaurant, not a television set. But it happened naturally, even if it was totally unanticipated, and it had a profound effect on where and how she focused her energy.

Of course, like most things in life, the road to this full circle moment—from Top Chef season 10 winner to becoming the show’s host—was so much more winding and complicated than it may have appeared from the outside. From growing up as an adoptee in the Midwest, to trying to fit in with all the other girls who were busy dating boys, to coming out and finding love when she least expected it, Kristen learned that, unlike a map, no set of plans or definitions can dictate or explain a life. In fact, accidents happen. Curveballs will come. And they will often be consequential to one’s path.

In Accidentally on Purpose, what defines Kristen’s story aren’t the missteps or even the pleasant surprises that crop up. It’s how to respond when they do, and the decisions made at those intersections. Because while accidents may be unexpected, they don’t have to be at odds with purpose. And as Kristen approaches life’s milestones, big and small, with intention—the ones she expected, and those she didn’t—she realizes she can write her own definitions and chart her own course.

Genre:

  • "With her humble heart and calm intelligence, Kristen Kish discusses her life and career with candor and wonder, expresses her early sense of fear and shame, and relates points in time that reflect expectation, disappointment, and revelation. Like any great artist, she writes her story so we can know ours a bit better. Accidentally on Purpose is a recollection of what it means to become yourself, believe in your light, and allow life to help you chart your course rather than derail you. Kristen hasn't written a How-To guide. She's written a recipe for a life worth living: with purpose, curiosity, forgiveness, luck, and of course—what every recipe relies on—love."
    Stacy London, TV host, designer, stylist, and author
  • “Kristen Kish takes us on a journey filled with honesty and raw emotion. From a teenager feeling like an outsider to an empowered groundbreaker. Kristen leaves no crumbs! The world is a better place when people like Kristen stand in their truth a reminder everyone has a story.”
    Tamron Hall, Emmy-award winning TV host, journalist and bestselling author
  • "Accidentally on Purpose is a candid journey of life and lessons learned. Kristen Kish brings the reader to the 'table' with stories that are inspiring, raw, and real. I never wanted to finish it."
    Camila McConaughey, New York Times bestselling author of Just Try One Bite and founder of Women of Today

On Sale
Apr 22, 2025
Page Count
352 pages
Publisher
Little, Brown and Company
ISBN-13
9780316580915

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Kristen Kish

About the Author

Kristen Kish was born in South Korea and adopted into a family in Michigan. She attended Le Cordon Bleu in Chicago. After culinary school, Kristen spent ten years in Boston in several high-profile restaurants. In 2012 Kristen competed on Bravo’s Top Chef where she won the coveted title. She co-hosted 36 Hours, a Travel Channel show with the New York Times. In October 2017, Kristen released her first cookbook, Kristen Kish Cooking: Recipes and Techniques and in 2018 she partnered with LINE Hotels to launch her first restaurant, Arlo Grey in Austin, TX. In 2023, Kristen became host of Bravo’s Top Chef for its 21st season, a full circle moment, rejoining the Top Chef family a full 10 years later. Kristen is the co-star of Fast Foodies, a co-host of Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend and the host and producer of Restaurants at the End of the World.

Learn more about this author