Top Chef Season 20 Contestants - Meet all the 16 Contestants
by Ushapriyanga
Updated Mar 27, 2023
Top Chef
Top Chef, a popular American reality competition TV series where chefs compete in culinary challenges, premiered on Bravo on March 8, 2006. A panel of professional chefs and notable figures from the food and wine industry judge the contestants, with one or more participants eliminated in each episode. The show is created by Magical Elves Productions, who also produced Project Runway. Due to its success, the show has had several spin-offs, including Top Chef Masters, Top Chef: Just Desserts, Top Chef Junior, Top Chef Amateurs, and Top Chef Family Style, as well as international adaptations. The latest season, Top Chef: World All-Stars, started airing on March 9, 2023.
Top Chef Season 20 Contestants
1.
Samuel Albert
2.
Luciana Berry
3.
Sara Bradley
4.
Dawn Burrell
5.
Ali Al Ghzawi
6.
Tom Goetter
7.
Nicole Gomes
8.
Victoire Gouloubi
9.
Charbel Hayek
10.
Buddha Lo
11.
Dale MacKay
12.
May Phattanant Thongthong
13.
Begoña Rodrigo
14.
Gabriel Rodriguez
15.
Amar Santana
16.
Sylwia Stachyra
S.no
Contestants
Top Chef Season 20
Samuel Albert - A French Chef with a passion for Fusion Cuisine
Samuel Albert is a renowned chef from Soucelles, France, who is the owner and executive chef of Les Petits Prés in Angers. He is known for his unique and innovative French and Japanese fusion cuisine, which he learned while training under Joël Robouchon in Monaco and London. Chef Samuel has worked in some of the world's most famous restaurants in Australia, Switzerland, and Shanghai, and even served as the Executive Chef for the Belgium Embassy in Tokyo. He won the tenth season of "Top Chef France," which earned him the Order of the Belgian Crown.
Luciana Berry - A Brazilian Chef promoting exotic flavors in Europe
Luciana Berry, originally from Salvador in Bahia, Brazil, won the second season of "Top Chef Brazil." She is the owner of Catering on the Hill and BerryBartt, a cooking sauce brand. Luciana is passionate about showcasing the exotic flavors and ingredients that are integral to Brazilian cuisine and serves as an ambassador of Brazilian cuisine in Europe. She caters to the Brazilian Embassy, Brazilian tourism board, corporate events, and private dinner parties, and writes recipes for Bossa Brazil magazine in the UK.
Sara Bradley - A Kentucky Chef who celebrates traditional Southern flavors
Sara Bradley is a chef and owner of freight house, a unique southern-inspired restaurant and bourbon bar located in Paducah, KY. She first learned how to cook from her mother and grandmother and infuses their history into her dishes, which honor her father's Appalachian upbringing and her mother's Jewish heritage. Chef Sara has worked for Michelin-starred chefs in New York and Chicago before returning to Western Kentucky to open her own restaurant in 2015. She was a finalist on "Top Chef" Season 16 in Kentucky and believes in creating an equitable and compassionate work environment for her team.
Dawn Burrell - An Olympian turned Chef with a passion for Modern Southern cuisine
Dawn Burrell, a finalist on "Top Chef" Season 18 in Portland, is an Olympian turned chef. She discovered her love for food during her world travels with USA's Track & Field team. After competing in the 2000 Summer Olympics, Dawn enrolled in Culinary Arts at the Art Institute of Houston and worked with several chefs, including Chef Tom Aikens in London and Houston's Monica Pope. She was the Executive Chef at Kulture, a modern Southern restaurant, and earned her first James Beard nomination in 2020. Currently, she is working to open her first restaurant in Houston called Late August.
Ali Al Ghzawi - A Jordanian Chef promoting Middle Eastern Cuisine
Ali Al Ghzawi is a chef and owner of Alee, an upscale Middle Eastern restaurant that reflects the culture, background, and roots of Jordan and the Middle East. Ali discovered his passion for food during high school, where he made 150 sandwiches a day and sold them to everyone on campus. He won the third season of "Top Chef Middle East & North Africa" in Lebanon.
Nicole Gomes: Winner of "Top Chef Canada" Season 5 All-Stars
Nicole Gomes is the executive chef, co-founder, and owner of Cluck ‘N’ Cleaver, a chicken restaurant located in Calgary, Canada, which she operates alongside her sister Francine. The restaurant is known for serving fried and rotisserie chicken made from scratch with all-natural ingredients, while promoting an inclusive and positive work environment. With 28 years of culinary experience under her belt, Nicole has traveled extensively, working in Vancouver, Paris, and even a naval base in Sydney. Nicole has participated in various cooking competitions throughout her career, including the All-Star season of "Top Chef Canada," where she became the first woman to earn the title of "Top Chef Canada Champion." She also appeared on "Beat Bobby Flay." Apart from cooking, Nicole enjoys singing jazz, traveling, swimming, and loves doing anything outdoors.
Victoire Gouloubi: Finalist of "Top Chef Italy" Season 2
Victoire Gouloubi, who was born and raised in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, moved to Italy to study law. While studying in Italy, she discovered her passion for cooking and went on to work in a number of renowned European restaurants in Italy and France. She has also served as a sous chef under Michelin star chef Marc Farellacci at L’Assassino. Victoire combines her love for Italian food with African cuisine, using a range of ingredients to showcase her passion for European and Congolese flavors and traditions. She is the creator and host of two cooking television programs, "Il Tocco di Victoire" and "La Mia Africa" for Sky TV. Victoire was named one of the 100 most influential women of 2021 by F magazine in Italy. She was also a runner-up in the second season of "Top Chef Italy." She currently resides in Milan, working as a private chef.
Charbel Hayek: Winner of "Top Chef Middle East & North Africa" Season 5 Saudi Arabia
Charbel Hayek developed an interest in cooking at a young age while spending time in the kitchen with his mother in his hometown, Beirut, Lebanon. He went on to study culinary at the French School of Excellence before moving to Los Angeles to work at the two-star Michelin restaurant, Mélisse, for three years. Upon returning to Beirut, Charbel participated in and won the fifth season of "Top Chef Middle East & North Africa." His cuisine is a fusion of New American, French, and Lebanese influences, and he is always ready to take risks with his dishes. Currently residing in Lake Worth, Florida, Charbel works as a private chef, while also expanding his knowledge and skills in the kitchen. In his spare time, he enjoys spending quality time with his family, exercising, and working on a book that will be published later this year.
Buddha Lo: Winner of "Top Chef Houston" Season 19
Buddha Lo is the executive chef of Marky’s Caviar & Huso, a 14-seat restaurant in New York City that serves a tasting menu with caviar as the star of the show. Originally from Port Douglas, Australia, Buddha started cooking at the age of 12 at his parent's restaurant and learned the fundamentals of cooking from his Hong Kong native father. At 17, he moved to Melbourne, where he worked for some of the best chefs in Australia, before moving to London to work at the three-star Michelin restaurant, Gordon Ramsay. During his time in London, he also staged at various restaurants across the globe, including France, England, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Singapore, Hong Kong, and the US. Buddha eventually landed his dream
Dale MacKay: A Top Chef Winner and Successful Restaurateur from Saskatchewan
Dale MacKay, winner of the first season of “Top Chef Canada,” has come a long way from his roots in Saskatchewan, Canada. After working in the kitchens of Gordon Ramsay and Daniel Boulud, he returned to Saskatoon where he co-founded the Grassroots Restaurant Group with his colleague Christopher Cho. Over the past eight years, the duo has opened five highly-acclaimed restaurants with Japanese, Korean, and French influences in Saskatchewan. Dale is a single dad to his son Ayden and enjoys spending his free time cooking together, watching movies, and racing in triathlons. He has also appeared on “Iron Chef Gauntlet,” “Fire Masters,” and “Wall of Chefs.”
May Phattanant Thongthong: A Self-Taught Chef and Seasoned Competitor from Thailand
May Phattanant Thongthong is the Executive Chef and Co-Partner of MAZE Dining, a top-rated restaurant in Bangkok, Thailand. May, who was born and raised in Chiang Mai, did not have the funds to attend culinary school but taught herself by reading cookbooks. Her expertise in cooking helped her run the popular Monkey’s Kitchen and My Bistro restaurants in Chiang Mai for over 15 years. May was the runner-up on season one of “Top Chef Thailand,” and has won “Iron Chef Thailand” twice. With an excellent palate and an exceptional memory for recreating dishes, she is excited to bring her northern Thai cuisine to the world stage on “Top Chef” World All-Stars.
Begoña Rodrigo: A Michelin-Starred Chef and First Winner of “Top Chef Spain”
Begoña Rodrigo is the Executive Chef and Owner of La Salita, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Valencia, Spain. After leaving university to pursue her passion for food, Begoña worked at Amsterdam Marriott Hotel before moving to London where she worked at the restaurant Aquarium. She competed and won season one of “Top Chef Spain,” becoming the first winner. At La Salita, Begoña conjures up two tasting menus with defined flavors and an elegant touch.
Gabriel Rodriguez: A Mexican Chef with a Distinct Cooking Style Now in Madrid
Gabriel Rodriguez started his culinary career in Mexico City as a dishwasher at Pujol before working his way up the ranks in the kitchen. After winning the second season of “Top Chef Mexico,” he moved to Mazatlán where he developed his own cooking style experimenting with different flavors. He prides himself on his technique and cooking with local Mexican ingredients and spices. He recently moved to Madrid, Spain to be a private chef.
Amar Santana: A Chef and Restaurateur from the Dominican Republic and Queens
Amar Santana, who hails from the Dominican Republic and Queens, is the Executive Chef and Owner of Broadway by Amar Santana in Laguna Beach, California, and Vaca Restaurant in Costa Mesa, California. Amar was a finalist on “Top Chef California” season 13.
Sylwia Stachyra: Top Chef Winner from Poland
Sylwia Stachyra is a talented chef and the winner of “Top Chef Poland,” Season 7. She hails from Lublin, Poland, and currently resides there with her family. As the owner of her own cooking school and consultancy called “CookShe,” Sylwia is passionate about sharing her love of cooking with others. After winning “Top Chef Poland” season 7, Sylwia decided to focus on her passion for teaching. She works as an independent consultant, lectures at the University in Lublin, designs tasting menus and occasionally works as a private chef. Sylwia is proud to represent different cultures, flavors, and traditions in her dishes, and she is dedicated to sharing her love of cooking with others. In her free time, Sylwia loves spending time with her family, including her three-year-old daughter Laura.
Tom Goetter: From "Top Chef Germany" Finalist to Scenic Luxury Cruises' Executive
Tom Goetter was born and raised in Mainz, Germany, where he began his culinary journey. He trained at Hyatt Hotels in Mainz and obtained his Masters in Culinary Arts with honors from Steinberger Academy in southern Germany. Tom further honed his skills under the tutelage of Thomas Keller and his team in Napa Valley. With a passion for international cuisine, he has traveled the world, working at Michelin-starred restaurants, high-end hotels, and ultra-luxury cruise ships.
In 2018, Tom Goetter competed on “Top Chef Germany,” where he finished as a finalist. Since then, he has been serving as the Executive Chef for the Scenic Eclipse, a six-star world's first Discovery Yacht, offering a diverse range of cuisines, including Modern Asian, Asian Street Food, French, and Italian. In 2022, he was promoted to Director of Food & Beverage Ocean, overseeing all operations and menu development for all Scenic Ocean Vessels. Tom Goetter continues to showcase his culinary expertise and creativity on board the Scenic Luxury Cruises.
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Top Chef Season 20 Contestants-FAQs
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