Featuring cast members from Bravo’s
Lee Anne Wong
Lee Anne Wong describes herself as an iron chef all the way. Now, she is the executive chef of event operations for The French Culinary Institute in New York City, and absolutely loves what she does - probably because she gets to boss her students around everyday. Her passion is pork, and she can do anything with a pig. Her mother was her inspiration and she says that she probably gets her "chops" from her. She was inspired to join the show because in her opinion there is nothing like being around other chefs who share the same passion for food as she does. However, if someone tries to fake their way through the show, Lee Anne will immediately sniff it out and isn't afraid to confront them about it.
Miguel Morales
Native New Yorker Miguel Morales is an energetic and passionate Tournant at the Mandarin Oriental in New York City. His laugh is infectious and his personality abounding. He has been a chef for eight years and his true passion and bliss for cooking keeps him more focused on how his food tastes than the title on his chef coat. A down-to-earth spirit, his personality sometimes gets him in trouble in the kitchen. He hopes "Top Chef" will be an opportunity for him to showcase his talents as a chef without compromising who he is as a person
Dave Martin
After pursuing a degree in English at the University of Redlands, Dave wound up in a career tied to the technology industry. He was soon running own successful firm in Newport Beach, the money came easy but something was missing. He was constantly entertaining and putting together parties and cooking for friends and family to keep him going. Upon the technology market crash of 2000, Dave lost almost everything and made the choice to start over again and to pursue his true passion and love for food. He was then inspired to make a different kind of dough and chose to attend culinary school at the Le Cordon Bleu in Pasadena and graduated with honors. While still enrolled in school, Dave formed his own catering company, As You Wish. Additionally, Dave took on the Executive Chef role at XO Wine Bistro in Manhattan Beach. He soon built a strong local following of customers who enjoyed his multi-regional cuisine that ranged from Southern BBQ to Southeast Asian. Dave has a true love and passion for food and people, and enjoys bringing the two together. Dave is busy planning his next food related venture.
Harold Dieterle
Harold Dieterle grew up cooking with his family, and in high school discovered that it was a great way to meet girls. He stayed in the culinary arts because of his true love of food, and Harold most recently was the Sous Chef at The Harrison Restaurant in New York City. Although Harold is young, he is dead serious about his cooking and the career he has chosen. Because Harold has risen to such an impressive title at a young age, he is extremely confident about his cooking abilities -- sometimes too confident. He finds that people will think he is always in a bad mood because of his serious nature in the kitchen. But out of the kitchen, he describes himself as "all smiles." Harold may be underestimated in the beginning, but people will soon learn he is a serious culinary force to be reckoned with.
Andrea Beaman
Andrea Beaman is a natural nutritionist and holistic counselor with a "crunchy granola" healthy cooking style. She attended the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, where she currently teaches, and it's her mission to encourage a healthier world through her nutritious meal solutions. At 28, Andrea was diagnosed with thyroid disease and this was her motivation to embark on a healthier lifestyle through natural and sustainable food choices. She healed herself after two years of eating healthy and exercising, and now has a passion to teach others in similar situations. Successfully healing her illness through natural food choices and therapies was the catalyst that changed her life and profession. Today, she is a Natural Nutritionist and Holistic Health Counselor accredited with the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. She is also the author of her self-published book, The Whole Truth, and her follow-up cookbook, The Whole Truth Eating and Recipe Guide, is due in February 2006. One of her main goals is to encourage people to stop eating standard American junk food and live better by choosing natural, pure, and healthy foods. Andrea is dedicated to educating people about health-promoting cuisine, and her inspired passion comes through in her food.
Stephen Asprinio
Everything about Stephen Asprinio is eccentric. This borderline obsessive-compulsive personality has had a passion for cooking from a very young age, and always knew he wanted to establish himself as an influential person in the hospitality industry. After graduating from high school in Palm Beach, FL, Stephen went straight to the Culinary Institute of America. To get an edge over the competition, he continued his education after culinary school and earned his degree from Cornell University. Formerly the Sommelier for Nob Hill at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Stephen was one of the youngest Sommeliers in the country, but desperately wants to get back in the kitchen. He describes his cooking style as being light years ahead of traditional chefs and feels his background as a Sommelier only makes him a more valuable chef. Stephen's next venture is to launch his own restaurant concept, named FoodReal, "gourmet" quick-service restaurant and epicurean lifestyle boutique opening in late 2006.
With Additional appearances by:
Candice Kumai
Candice was born to be on TV and born to cook. Since her teens, Candice has enjoyed a good living as a model, but realized that cooking was her true passion. She couldn't keep herself out of the kitchen and was inspired by her philosophy of cooking as an artistic expression to be shared with other people. She made the decision to continue her education with a degree in the culinary arts. With an eye for fashion and a passion for cooking, Candice wants to revolutionize the way cooking shows are perceived. To her cooking is fun and she wants to show women across America that being domestic can still be "hot." She even makes her own sexy aprons and wears heels in the kitchen
Cynthia Sestito
Don't let her sweet, ditzy, and carefree persona fool you. Cynthia Sestito really has the persona of a loud talking, foul-mouthed sailor. She is a personal chef for Jay-Z and Beyonce and also consults for restaurants in the Hamptons. Her cooking is as unconventional as you get, she'll use a bottle of vodka to flatten out chicken, then sneaks a few swigs on the sly. She has no inhibitions and a no-nonsense attitude when it comes to her customers, not afraid to tell anyone exactly what she thinks.
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