Top Chef is back and it's placing bets in Las Vegas. The sixth season begins with 16 very talented and diverse chefs. Here's a look at the culinary artists, who will be cooking up drama, cuisine, and much more in Sin City.
Preeti Mistry
Age: 33
Hometown: San Francisco, Calif.
Profession: Executive Chef, Google, Bon Appetit ManAgement Company
Culinary Education: Le Cordon Bleu, London
Favorite Simple Summer Recipe: Fennel Crust Marin Sun Farms’ Rack of Lamb, Saffron Parsnip Puree, Heirloom Carrot and English Pea Ragout with Pinot Noir Reduction
Foodie Fact: Preeti’s commitment to seasonality, and her relationship with small local farmers are at the core of her cuisine. If she were a food, what food would she be? “I would be a green zebra tomato – extremely distinctive from all the others, a little hard on the outside, but pure love at the center.”
Ash Fulk
Age: 29
Hometown: Pleasant Hill, Calif. – currently resides in New York City
Profession: Sous Chef at Trestle on Tenth
Culinary Education: Self-Taught
Favorite Simple Summer Recipe: Grilled Corn on the Cob with Mayonnaise – with a sweet tea to wash it down.
Foodie Fact: Fulk enjoys working with foods that are regional and seasonal and follows the motto "if it grows together, it goes together." Ash enjoys whipping up custards and cooking with leeks, and some of his favorite chefs include Dan Barber and Claudia Fleming.
Eli Kirshtein
Age: 25
Hometown: Atlanta, Ga.
Profession: Executive Chef, Eno Restaurant and Wine Bar
Culinary Education: A.O.S. Culinary Arts, C.I.A
Favorite Simple Summer Recipe: Sous-Vide Octopus, Watermelon, Lemon Vinegar, and Nasturtiums
Foodie Fact: Kirshtein worked at restaurant Fishbone under Chef Richard Blais before moving to New York to attend school at the Culinary Institute of America. After graduation, Kirshtein returned to Atlanta to reunite with Blais, as Sous Chef at One, Midtown Kitchen.
Michael Isabella
Age: 34
Hometown: North Jersey – currently resides in Washington, D.C.
Profession: Executive Chef, Zaytinya
Culinary Education: Self-Taught
Favorite Simple Summer Recipe: Squash Blossoms
Foodie Fact: Isabella has traveled far and wide to perfect his culinary technique. While traveling through Greece and parts of the Middle East, he picked up the slight flavors and nuances of Greek cuisine. His favorite dish to prepare is octopus!
Jennifer Zavala
Age: 31
Hometown: Cromwell, Conn. – currently resides in Philadelphia, Pa.
Profession: Sous Chef, Xochitl
Culinary Education: Self-Taught
Favorite Simple Summer Recipe: Fiddle Head Ferns Sauteed in Butter Garlic Wine and Crushed Red Pepper.
Foodie Fact: Zavala is all about bringing "border food" to the city of Brotherly love, and takes great pride in her ability to cook Latino food - particularly Norteña and Tejas cuisines. She would have her last meal with Julia Child, and she'd let Julia do the cooking!
Eve Aronoff
Age: 40
Hometown: Ann Arbor, Mich.
Profession: Chef-Owner, Eve
Culinary Education: Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, France
Favorite Simple Summer Recipe: Salad of Ripe Tomatoes, Avocado, Red Onion and Fresh Lime – with Mozzarella di Bufala and some good bread
Foodie Fact: Aronoff has showcased a multi-course dinner before The James Beard Foundation, she's the author of her own cookbook - Eve: Contemporary Cuisine Methode Traditionelle - and she served as a delegate to Terra Madre, the bi-annual international slow food meeting in Italy.
Ashley Merriman
Age: 32
Hometown: Center Sandwich, N.H. – currently resides in Seattle, Wash.
Profession: Chef at Branzino in Seattle, Wash.
Culinary Education: Institute of Culinary Education, New York, N.Y.
Favorite Simple Summer Recipe: Pan-Fried Soft Shell Crabs with Ramps and Morels
Foodie Fact: You don't have to become a chef if you hail from a town named Center Sandwich, but don't tell that to Ashley Merriman. Merriman five kitchen must-haves are quality extra virgin olive oil, champagne vinegar, lemons and thyme.
Bryan Voltaggio
Age: 33
Hometown: Frederick, Md.—currently resides in Urbana, Md.
Profession: Chef/Partner, VOLT Restaurant
Culinary Education: A.O.S Culinary Arts, C.I.A.
Favorite Simple Summer Recipe: Marinated Grilled Hanger Steak, Silver Queen Corn and Fava Bean Succotash, Cherokee Purple Heriloom Tomatoes, Rick’s Arugula
Foodie Fact: Voltaggio has become a strong advocate for meats, seafood, and produce that are local, sustainable and organic. He explains, “Through our choice of ingredients we become engaged in more than creating a great dining experience, but in supporting local agriculture.”
Michael Voltaggio
Age: 30
Hometown: Frederick, Md. – currently resides in Los Angeles, Calif.
Profession: Chef de Cuisine at The Dining Room, Langham Huntington Hotel & Spa
Culinary Education: The Greenbrier Hotel Culinary Apprenticeship Program
Favorite Simple Summer Recipe: Soft Poached Egg with Morel Mushrooms, Fava Beans, Jamon Iberico Consommé
Foodie Fact: Voltaggio has quite the impressive resume, with a number of culinary awards, include the "AAA 55 Diamond" and "Mobil Award." In addition, he was finalist for the James Beard "Best New Restaurant" award.
Kevin Gillespie
Age: 26
Hometown: Atlanta, Ga.
Profession: Executive Chef & Partner, Woodfire Grill
Culinary Education: Art Institute of Atlanta
Favorite Simple Summer Recipe: Creamed silver queen corn with a warm salad of small tomatoes and pole beans.
Foodie Fact: Name a prestigious restaurant in Atlanta, and Gillespie has probably worked there. He's held positions at Atlanta Grill at The Ritz-Carlton, Two Urban Licks, and Woodfire Grill. Gillespie's kitchen is never without banyuls vinegar, smoked pork, espelette pepper, lemon oil and lard, and if Gillespie had to pick a favorite junk food, it would be hot wings.
Mattin Noblia
Age: 29
Hometown: Biarritz, France – currently resides in San Francisco, Calif.
Profession: Owner, Iluna Basque
Culinary Education: C.A.P. de cuisine in southern France, the Basque Region
Favorite Simple Summer Recipe: Grilled Sardines and Fresh Tomato Sauce, or Boudin Noire with Caramelized Apples, or Stuffed Calamari in Ink Sauce over Rice
Foodie Fact: Noblia became enamored with cooking as a small boy watching his mother prepare “piment d’ espelette” –Basque chili. Noblia admires French chefs Hubert Keller and Rolland Passot, but for his last meal, Mattin would cook a candle-lit dinner for two for himself and Jessica Alba.
Robin Leventhal
Age: 43
Hometown: Sun Valley, Idaho – currently resides in Seattle, Wash.
Profession: Chef, Artist and Teacher
Culinary Education: Self-Taught
Favorite Simple Summer Recipe: Grilled Corn and Avocado Salad with a great piece of fish or meat.
Foodie Fact: Robin discovered her passion for food while pursuing a Masters in Fine Arts. The chef/artist currently uses her cooking and culinary connections to help raise money for Lymphoma research.
Jennifer Carroll
Age: 33
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pa.
Profession: Chef de Cuisine 10 Arts by Eric Ripert
Culinary Education: The Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College, Philadelphia
Favorite Simple Summer Recipe: Compressed Watermelon, Chesapeake Bay Jumbo Lump Crab, Fennel Pollen and Wild Boar Prosciutto Chips
Foodie Fact: Carroll's culinary star is on the rise - she was personally selected by Chef Ripert as the Chef de Cuisine of 10 Arts at the Ritz-Carlton in Philadelphia. After a long day in the kitchen, Carroll likes to kick back late night with a great sandwich.
Jesse Sandlin
Age: 30
Hometown: Baltimore, Md.
Profession: Executive Chef, Abacrombie Fine Foods
Culinary Education: Self-Taught
Favorite Simple Summer Recipe: Julienned Summer Squash Tossed with Lemon, Heirloom Cherry Tomatoes, Basil, Salt, Cracked Black Pepper, and a Little Bit of Butter
Foodie Fact: She may be young, but Jesse has spent 14 years working in professional kitchens everywhere from Maryland to Australia. She's trained under chefs Andre Tescher and Kurt Spataro, and you can always find Bacon, butter, duck fat, cumin and trash bags in her kitchen!
Hector Santiago
Age: 41
Hometown: San Juan, Puerto Rico – currently resides in Atlanta, Ga.
Profession: Chef-Owner, Pura Vida ~ Latino Tapas Restaurant & Bar
Culinary Education: AOS Culinary Arts, Culinary Institute of America
Favorite Simple Summer Recipe: Charcoal Grilled Skirt steak with a Vegetable Ceviche (celery, radishes, tomatoes and whatever else is available from local farmers)
Foodie Fact: Santiago has a long list of culinary accolades - including two James Beard nominations for "Best Chef, Southeast." Santiago hopes to raise the cultural awareness of Latin American products and cuisine, and is currently working on a hot pepper-inspired culinary venture he refers to as "taming the heat."
Ron Duprat
Age: 40
Hometown: Mare Rouge, Haiti—currently resides in Hollywood, Fla. and Naples, Fla.
Profession:: Executive Chef
Culinary Education: College Aimee Cesaire and La Varenne Ecole de Cuisine
Favorite Simple Summer Recipe: Jumbo Scallop, Sweet Chili Tahini Sauce, Watermelon and Avocado Slaw.
Foodie Fact: Duprat is known for daring experimentation with exotic flavors, often incorporating his own Haitian Creole influences with French-Asian Fusion cuisine. His favorite dish to prepare? Flourless chocolate cake.
Laurine Wickett
Age: 38
Hometown: Rochester, N.Y. – currently resides in San Francisco, Calif.
Profession: Chef / Owner Left Coast Catering
Culinary Education: A.O.S Culinary Arts, C.I.A
Favorite Simple Summer Recipe: Grilled corn salad with summer beans and chanterelles
Foodie Fact: Wickett began her catering career preparing dinners for the executives of Silicon Valley. She went on to become the chef and owner of Left Coast Catering - preparing cuisine based on the hodgepodge of cultures found in the San Francisco Bay Area.
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