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Top Chef Season 2: Los Angeles

  • Antonio Evans
  • June 16, 2011

Season 2 of the reality series, Top Chef aired with a new breed of 15 aspiring chefs vying for the title of Top Chef. This season was hosted by actress and critically-acclaimed writer Padma Lakshmi. The series kicked off in Los Angeles and ended in Hawaii. Former Top Chef season 1 contestant, Lee Ann Wong has joined the Top Chef team.

Here’s a list of the 15 chefs who were casted in Top Chef season 2:

Suyai Steinhauer. This British Top Chef alumni’s advocacy is all about natural cooking.  Prior to joining the show, she was not contented just working on a restaurant so she opened her own catering company, New York Fork Meal Delivery Service. A personal chef and a caterer, Chef Suyai is still catering to the jet-setting New Yorkers in the present times.

Otto Borsich II. He was the oldest but most interesting contestant they’ve had on the show. His passion for food is undoubtedly amazing. From doing the little things in their own kitchen, turning leftover meals into an incredible dish, he certainly climb the ladder of success through his passion and hardwork. He has inspired his students at the Las Vegas Culinary Institute to do the same. He is now living the life of a celebrity Chef at Mahi Mah’s Seafood Restaurant and Sushi Saloon in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Emily Sprissler. This cowboy Top Chef contestant will certainly not take things easy on the kitchen. She has been a chef at the famous Nob Hill Restaurant in MGM Grand, Las Vegas. During the show, she found a hidden talent which she gladly shared with everyone – imitating a foreign accent. Now, she currently works as a private chef and handling a personal career as a mom at the same time.

Marisa Churchill. Considered one of San Francisco’s top Pastry Chefs, Chef Marisa Churchill has a lot of experience in the kitchen under her belt. She has been asked to grace the kitchen of the Culinary Institute of Charleston (CIC) and make her signature recipe with the help of their 2 culinary students. She has also published a cookbook entitled Sweet & Skinny, a guide to great skills and recipes for your gastronomic cravings.

Josie Smith-Malave. Tagged as a Global Soul Chef, Chef Josie Smith-Malave continuously works on bringing out the soul of every culture’s dish and presenting it to the world. She has been linked with the exclusive restaurant, Norwood Club but was replaced by another Chef in 2009. She is now working as bohemian chef and an active culinary consultant, highly visible doing events, and exploring other aspects of the culinary world.

Carlos Fernandez. This Top Chef alumnus’ talent for cooking is incredible even before he joined the show. Of Cuban roots, Chef Carlos Fernandez continuously presents an exciting menu for his guests at his restaurant, which started with his family’s recipes that he has mastered throughout these years and recipes that were influenced by New York chefs that he has made connections with. All of these hardwork and passion for cooking is evident in his restaurant, Hi-Life Cafe in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Frank Terzoli. Known for his bold flavors and personality, he was given the name “Frankie the Bull”during his exposure on the reality series. He’s fun, he’s great, he’s amazing. After working at Delicias Restaurant, he is now the Executive Chef for the Heat Supper Club in San Diego, California and now, he is transforming Ramada Hotel’s Proud Mary into something like Bourbon in the region.

Mia Gaines-Alt. This talented chef returned home and became part of Hotel Molokai based in Hawaii in 2008. Now, she is managing a catering business and is keeping herself busy by creating a book which will feature her own recipes as well as other Polynesian recipes. She also aims to add stories of how special the recipes are to those who made them.

Betty Fraser. Her feature on the reality series has really made a positive impact on her career. She currently owns an award-winning restaurant called Grub which is based in Hollywood, California. Aside from her restaurant, she manages to do some catering for special clients and have appeared in some food and wine events with a few television guestings here and there in the past year.

Michael Midgley. His humor and passionate cooking talent proved be strong features for this American Chef. This former cook and bar owner continues to recreate different dishes with a touch of his own identity. Now he’s up for your catering needs with his own catering company called Midgley Catering which is based in Stockton, CA.

Cliff Crooks. He’s very passionate when it comes to the kitchen. There’s nothing that Chef Cliff Crooks will never compete at. He has been linked with the biggest names in restaurant business such as Blue Water Grill (Executive Sous-Chef) in Union Square and has become part of Gramercy Tavern’s kitchen staff. He is last known to be part of BLT Steak’s kitchen in New York, New York.

Elia Aboumrad. When Top Chef Season 8 opened, she was made part of the All-Star Cast but was the first one to be eliminated. On that note, she had made some feuds with Top Chef judge Tom Colicchio. Now, she’s busy with some culinary consultancy and private catering in Mexico, Paris, and the U.S. and is also set to open a new restaurant named Avec Moi along with a colleague this year. This is said to be based in Los Angeles.

Sam Talbot. He was tagged as part of the ten sexiest chefs in New York, but this is nothing compared to his passion and talent for cooking. At such a young age, he managed to run the kitchen of Surf Lodge, his own restaurant, Williamsburgh Cafe in Brooklyn, and now, he’s ready to be the Executive Chef for New York’s Mondrian SoHo.

Marcel Vigneron. There’s nothing that escapes the senses of this Top Chef Season two Runner up. Her love and passion for food was turned into molecular gastronomy as she kept pushing for high limits beyond everyone’s culinary imagination. A former Sous-Chef at Beverly Hill’s Jose Andres’ The Bazaar, Chef Marcel now stars on his own reality TV show, “Marcel’s Quantum Kitchen.€

Top Chef Season 2: Los AngelesIlan Hall. He has grown to be a wanderlust, discovering new dishes from different places all over the world. He ventured into his own restaurant, The Gorbals, which opened in downtown LA. Aside from the restaurant, he and his team also caters to some special events in and out of The Gorbals.

Check out other Finalists

Top Chef Season 1, Top Chef Season 3

About the Author:

Antonio Evans is an entrepreneur/speaker/researcher who specializes in the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and the culinary world. More from Antonio Evans

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