Timothy Dean
Timothy Dean, 39, is taking on 16 fellow chefs in a kitchen throwdown. The executive chef and owner of Prime Steakhouse in Baltimore, he has years of experience working alongside some of the world’s best. These include the late master chef Jean-Louis Palladin (at his restaurants Jean-Louis and Palladin), Alain Ducasse, and the late Patrick Clark, the first black executive chef at Tavern on the Green.
Get to Know Timothy
His lobster mac and cheese with black truffles
Captions by Frank McCoy
Tiffany Derry
Tiffany Derry has been the executive chef at the Go Fish Ocean Club in Dallas since 2008. A year later, the restaurant, which specializes in the fruit of the sea, won a spot on OpenTable.com Diners’ Choice list. Trained at the Art Institute of Houston, Derry later taught there. Her favorite ingredients are Creole mustard and seasoning, champagne vinegar, Dijon, and kosher salt.
Follow her on Facebook as Chef Tiffany Derry.
Get to know Tiffany
Chef Tiffany Derry dishes up pan-seared scallops
Kevin Sbraga
Kevin Sbraga wants to win big like another notable black Italian-American, former NFL Hall of Famer Franco Harris. Sbraga, 31, executive chef at Rat’s Restaurant at Grounds for Sculpture, in Hamilton, N.J., plans to win his own Super Bowl title: Top Chef. In 2010, Rat’s, named after a character in the children’s novel The Wind in the Willows, won an OpenTable.com Diners’ Choice award. Two years ago, Sbraga won Best Meat Presentation at Bocuse d’Or USA.
Get to know Kevin
Tamesha Warren
Tamesha Warren earned her culinary education at the Art Institute of New York City. As sous chef at the Oval Room in Washington, D.C., the 24-year-old directs kitchen traffic in a restaurant that Forbes magazine says is among the “World’s Top Power Dining Spots.” Her specialty is combining French and Asian flavors with American cooking.
Find her on Facebook as Chef Tamesha Warren
Get to know Tamesha
Kenny Gilbert
Kenny Gilbert says he made his first omelet at age 3. Thirty-three years later, as executive chef of the PGA National Resort and Spa, he's serving up gourmet dishes to some serious players. Gilbert, who trained at the Pennsylvania Culinary Institute, dreams of creating his own restaurant group to spread his food gospel.
Get to know Kenny
Ron Duprat
Top Chef: Las Vegas, Season 6
Ron Duprat has a big heart. At his day job, he is the executive chef at Latitudes, at the Marriott Hollywood Beach. Off the clock, Duprat is involved in humanitarian efforts to alleviate hunger and raise funds for earthquake relief in Haiti. He also works with the Pan American Development Fund and Food for the Poor.
Follow him on Facebook as Chef Ron Duprat.
Ron Duprat’s exit interview
Chef Duprat gives back
Carla Hall
Top Chef: New York, Season 5
Carla Hall is special and almost won the prize toque. Her laugh, mad dessert skills and infectious enthusiasm mesmerized us. The French-trained, Southern-influenced chef continues as owner of Alchemy Caterers, in Washington, D.C. And you gotta root for someone who loves butter, chocolate and pies.
Follow her on Facebook as Chef Carla Hall.
Carla being carla – a tribute
Carla shares the love
Carla cooks up holiday treats
Carla’s gracious, insightful exit interview
Nimma Osman
Top Chef: Chicago, Season 4
Nimma Osman was gone almost before we knew she was there. But no worries. The graduate of the renowned Culinary Institute of America is now sous chef at Atlanta’s Sun in My Belly. It's a triple threat of a business, with a catering company, a neighborhood café and a garden café.
Tre Wilcox
Top Chef: Miami, Season 3
Tre Wilcox was one of the most popular contestants, and his elimination shocked many. He is now executive chef at Loft 610 Urban Restaurant and Lounge in Plano, Texas.
Follow his fan page on Facebook.
Tre Wilcox prepares a tuna dish
Tre Chats with Chef Tom Colicchio
Tre Wilcox prepares southwestern chicken
Cliff Crooks
Top Chef: Los Angeles Season 2
Cliff Crooks is now a line cook at Danny Meyer’s Gramercy Tavern, in New York City.
Get to know Cliff Crooks
Mia Gaines-Alt
Top Chef: Los Angeles, Season 2
Mia Gaines-Alt is working as a chef at Paddlers’ Inn, in the city of Kaunakakai, on the island of Molokai in Hawaii.
Find her on Facebook as Mia Gaines-Alt.
Get to know Mia
Her audition for Everyday Simple, Part 1
Everyday Simple, Part 2
Everyday Simple, Part 3
Brian Hill
Top Chef: San Francisco, Season 1
Brian Hill took his cooking to the road. The former celebrity chef for Mary J. Blige created the Comfort Truck. Hill now travels throughout the Los Angeles area serving up his unique blend of American, European and Caribbean cuisine. He is also a featured chef on the Food Network’s Private Chefs of Beverly Hills.
Follow the Comfort Truck on Twitter
Find Hill on Facebook as Chef Brian
Get to know Brian Hill
His paradise salad and peach BBQ salmon (Part 1)
His beer-marinated chargrilled chicken
Lisa Parks
Top Chef: San Francisco, Season 1
Lisa Parks is a cooking instructor and private chef. Maybe. But it’s private, and we can’t find her.
Get to know Lisa Sparks
Passion in the kitchen with Lisa Parks