The fifth season of the hit Bravo reality show, Top Chef, is taking place in the culinary center of America, New York City. The seventeen chefs competing for this year’s prizes include many future stars in the making. They need to keep their cool if they are going to make it in the Top Chef kitchen.
Judges Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons, and Padma Lakshmi will be joined by guest judges to challenge the chefs in the Top Chef kitchen and around New York. Each week, the contestants will face a Quickfire Challenge, where they can win immunity for the week, and an Elimination Challenge, where their fate on the show will be at risk. One chef will win the challenge while another will be asked to pack their knives and go. Eventually, just one competitor will be left standing as the winner of Top Chef: New York.
The Cast
- Alex Eusebio, 33 - Alex is the Executive Chef at Restaurant 15 in Los Angeles. He grew up in New York City and is classically trained in both French and Spanish cuisine.
- Ariane Duarte, 41 - Ariane is a resident of New Jersey, where she is the owner and Executive Chef of the restaurant CulinAriane, with her husband Michael.
- Carla Hall, 44 - The chef and owner of Alchemy Caterers in Washington DC, Carla creates comforting soul food with the flair of classical training that she received at L’Academie de Cuisine.
- Danny Gagnon, 26 — Currently the Chef de Cuisine at the Babylon Carriage House, a popular restaurant on Long Island, Danny was classically trained at the Culinary Institute of America.
- Eugene "Gene" Villiatora, 33 — Gene is one of the rare self-taught competitors on Top Chef, beginning his culinary career as a dishwasher. He was raised in Hawaii and currently lives in Las Vegas.
- Fabio Viviani, 30 — This season of Top Chef is marked by two European contestants. The first, Fabio, was raised in Florence, Italy and trained throughout Europe. He is the owner and Executive Chef of Café Firenze Italian Restaurant and Martini Bar in California.
- Hosea Rosenberg, 34 — Hosea is no newcomer to culinary competitions, having won the Flatiron Chef Competition seven times running. He is the Executive Chef at Jax Fish House in Colorado.
- Jamie Lauren, 30 — Jamie is the owner and Executive Chef of Absinthe Restaurant in California, and studied at the Culinary Institute of America. She grew up in New York City.
- Jeff McInnis, 30 — This Chef de Cuisine of The DiLido Beach Club in Florida began his journey to a culinary career at the age of fifteen. He is a perfectionist who excels at organization.
- Jill Snyder, 28 — Jill was raised in Pennsylvania and is currently the Executive Chef at Red Maple in Baltimore, which is a hip restaurant and nightclub.
- Lauren Starling Hope, 24 — Lauren is a recent graduate of the Culinary Institute of America married a UMCA cadet that she met while still in school. She works at Jag's Steak and Seafood in Cincinnati.
- Leah Cohen, 26 — Leah is the Sous Chef at Centro Vinoteca in New York City, where she has lived for nearly her entire life. She also was trained at the Culinary Institute of America.
- Melissa Harrison, 28 — Melissa lives in Colorado and specializes in Latin American cuisine, which she cooks in her position as Sous Chef at Centro Latin Kitchen and Refreshment Palace.
- Patrick Dunlea, 21 —The youngest contestant this season, Patrick is a culinary student at the Culinary Institute of America. He and Lauren became friends while attending school.
- Radhika Desai, 28 — Radhika is the Executive Chef at Between Boutique Café & Lounge in Chicago, where she combines her classical training, travel experience, and cultural heritage into bold flavored dishes.
- Richard Sweeney, 27 — Richard currently serves as the Executive Sous Chef at Confidential Restaurant & Loft in California. He grew up around food and likes to focus on simple dishes and presentations.
- Stefan Richter, 35 — The second European contestant on this season, Stefan resides in California and owns Stefan’s European Catering.
Find out who is the first to pack their knives and go in the Top Chef: New York Episode One, titled "Melting Pot." New episodes air on Wednesday nights at 10 PM on Bravo, with frequent replays throughout the week. Check out the Top Chef: New York Page for episode summaries, cast profiles, and more.
