With the 20th season of the hit reality series Top Chef set to kick off sometime in 2023, it's worth wondering where the original cast is nowadays.
Ken Lee, was the first contestant to be eliminated from the show. In 2015, he resurfaced as a pasta-making masterclass host at the New School Cooking Academy in Culver City. As of 2022, it remains unclear where Ken Lee is or what he is currently doing.
Cynthia Sestito left the show due to her father's ailing health. After some time, she launched her private catering company called CYNFULLFOOD. Cynthia is well-known for serving as Jay-Z and Beyoncé's private chef, as reported by Cynfully Canna.
Brian Hill was eliminated third but has remained active in the reality TV chef scene since 2006. As of 2023, Brian Hill continues to promote his private catering company on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
She has capitalized on her celebrity by becoming the author of six wellness cookbooks since 2009. Candice Kumai also hosts the podcast "Wabi Sabi," She has made television appearances, including a guest spot on the HBO Max show "Selena + Chef".
After her time on the show, Lisa largely disappeared from the public eye. She co-authored a book titled "If You Wanna Get A Man, Learn How To Cook Book," which was published in 2012 under her new name, Lisa Pilar.
Andrea Beaman has authored three wellness books since 2011, with her most recent one, titled "Happy Healthy Thyroid," published in 2015. In the summer of 2023, she celebrated her 11-year anniversary with her life partner, Pablo Garcia.
Miguel Morales finished in sixth place on Top Chef. In March 2022, Morales began working as the Sous Chef for the Hard Rock Hotel in New York, as indicated on his LinkedIn account.
Dave Martin made a valiant run on Top Chef 1 en route to a third-place finish. However, his bread and butter is culinary consultation, a venture that has seen Martin launch New York eateries Chama Mama and Dalup in 2019
Tiffani Faison, the runner-up on Top Chef 1, has achieved significant success in the culinary world. Despite the closure of her beloved Tiger Mama restaurant in 2021, she rebounded by opening new establishments in downtown Boston.
Top Chef's inaugural winner Harold Dieterle took the competition by storm in 2006. Nowadays, Harold heads HD Hospitality, a culinary consulting that helped open the Mediterranean restaurant Ten Hope in Brooklyn