Meet the 'Top Chef' contestants with Atlanta ties
Bravo's "Top Chef" has become something of a cable television juggernaut since it launched in 2006, spawning several spinoffs and all-star editions. Atlanta has long represented as part of the franchise, producing several winners and memorable characters, several of whom have gone on to make their marks on Atlanta and other cities.
In advance of the debut of Season 14, which takes place in Charleston, S.C., get to to know the "Top Chef" chefs with Atlanta ties:
Jamie Lynch: Season 14, Charleston
Lynch is a partner and executive chef at 5Church, which opened in Midtown over the summer. Lynch currently divides his time between 5Church's three locations in Charleston, Charlotte, and Atlanta, which was reviewed by AJC dining critic Ligaya Figures in September .
A graduate of the New England Culinary Institute in Burlington, Vermont, Lynch trained under Michael Mina at Aqua in San Francisco and Daniel Boulud, Andrew Carmellini and Charlie Palmer in New York City.
He was named Charlotte Magazine’s Best Chef in 2013, 2014 and 2015.
Wesley True: Season 13, California
True,
and the now-shuttered Midtown restaurant The Spence (previously helmed by former "Top Chef" contestant Richard Blais,
A native of Mobile, Ala., and a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, True has worked at such celebrated New York kitchens as Danube, Bouley and Aquavit. He was nominated for a James Beard Award in the Best Chef: South category in 2011 and 2012.
These days, True is helming the kitchen at Point Royal in Fort Lauderdale,
Ron Eyester: Season 12, Boston
Eyester was cut on episode three, but there was more drama to come for the chef once he returned to Atlanta.
"The Angry Chef," as he was once known on social media,
and Rosebud in 2015 (Rosebud was purchased
),
The Family Dog closed, but was reopened in January by
under the same name, with an extensive remodel and a new menu.
After the proverbial dust settled, Eyester
Anthony Gray: Season 10, Seattle
Janine Falvo: Season 9, Texas
Tracey Bloom: Season 7, Washington D.C.
Before Table 1280, she worked as the pastry chef at Sia’s Restaurant in Duluth and for the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group.
Hector Santiago: Season 6, Las Vegas
One of three Atlanta contestants on Season 6, Santiago came in 13th. His shocking early exit from the show continues to puzzle his many local fans.
Kevin Gillespie: Season 6, Las Vegas
Eli Kirshtein: Season 6, Las Vegas
The Atlanta native worked at Buckhead Diner under Kevin Rathbun and at one Midtown Kitchen under former "Top Chef" contestant Richard Blais.
Richard Blais: Season 4, Chicago and All-Stars, Season 8
Arguably the most successful "Top Chef" alum out of Atlanta , Blais was the third runner up on Season 4 in Chicago and the winner of All-Stars Season 8.
The owner of two Flip Burger Boutique locations (one in Virginia Highland was previously the HD1 hot dog spot) and the now-shuttered Spence in Midtown opened Juniper & Ivy in San Diego, and now lives in southern California.
He has served as a guest judge on "Master Chef", "Guy's Grocery Games" and "Top Chef Canada" and hosted "Burger Lab," "Blais Off" and "Cook Your A$$ Off."
Nimma Osman: Season 4, Chicago
Osman didn't represent Atlanta quite as well as Richard Blais in Season 4 (Chicago) -- she got cut after the first episode.
A former line chef at the now-closed Repast, Osman is now a sous chef at Sun In My Belly in Kirkwood.
Heather Hurlburt: Top Chef - Desserts
The former executive pastry chef at the Cherokee Town and Country Club was a favorite from the first episode, but she succumbed to physical and emotional exhaustion and became the seventh person eliminated.
She now owns and operates her own Atlanta dessert company, HH Desserts.
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About the Author
Yvonne Zusel has been with the AJC since 2010. She worked on the digital news and food and dining teams before joining the arts & entertainment team.
