Cooking up a win for 'Top Chef'

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BY JEFF KORBELIK / Lincoln Journal Star

Nan Strait spent a recent Sunday shopping for a dress at Barney’s in New York City.

It’s quite understandable why the former Lincoln resident needs one.

She’ll be attending the 60th Emmy Awards on Sept. 21 in Los Angeles.

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Nan Strait, left, a Lincoln native, is a producer for "Top Chef," which has been nominated for an Emmy for outstanding reality competition program. She's holding up a tomahawk chop in the Top Chef Kitchen after a Quickfire challenge in Season 4. Center is director Paul Starkman, and at right is co-supervising producer Liz Cook. (Courtesy photo)

Nan Strait, left, a Lincoln native, is a producer for "Top Chef," which has been nominated for an Emmy for outstanding reality competition program. She's holding up a tomahawk chop in the Top Chef Kitchen after a Quickfire challenge in Season 4. Center is director Paul Starkman, and at right is co-supervising producer Liz Cook. (Courtesy photo)

The Emmys

The 60th Primetime Emmy Awards will air at 7 p.m. Sept. 21 on ABC. Lincoln's Nan Strait is one of 12 producers associated with "Top Chef," which is nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Reality Competition Program.

Strait, 32, is a supervising producer on Bravo’s “Top Chef,” which earned three Emmy nominations, including one for outstanding reality competition program.

“Top Chef” is up against “Project Runway” (Bravo), “American Idol” (Fox), “Dancing With the Stars” (ABC) and five-time winner “The Amazing Race” (CBS).

Strait is a 1995 Lincoln Pius X graduate. Her mother and stepfather, Nancy and Jim Ganser, live here.

After high school, Strait earned a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications and film in 1999 from the University of Alabama.

She then worked four years at the Tennessee Film and Music Commission before heading to Los Angeles, where she worked on television projects at Comedy Central, The Learning Channel and The Tennis Channel.

In 2006, Strait found herself at Magical Elves, the production company for “Top Chef” and “Project Runway,” as a challenge production coordinator for “Top Chef’s” second season.

She’s been there since, working her way up to supervising producer.

We caught up with her by phone last week for a quick Q&A. She’s in New York, where “Top Chef” is filming its fifth season.

How does it feel to be Emmy-nominated?

Strait: Everybody is pretty excited about it. Our company (Magic Elves) had two of the five. It’s pretty amazing for us. Being personally nominated for the show is crazy.

So what’s a supervising producer do?

Strait: Basically my job is to oversee the challenges. Really, supervising producers kind of do a little bit of everything. It’s a reality show, so everybody pitches in and helps with everything.

Do you cook?

Strait: I love to cook. I grew up in southern Louisiana. When you grow up in a family and house in Louisiana, it’s all about the food. I’m not ‘Top Chef’ caliber, but I love to cook at home. It’s part of who you are.

What do you miss about Lincoln?

Strait: I love Lincoln. One of my favorite things to do is to come home and spend time with my family and friends. There’s something calming about Lincoln.

Reach Jeff Korbelik at 473-7213 or jkorbelik@journalstar.com.