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“Meet the New Top Chef Contestants...”

New judge Toby Young (food critic and best-selling author of the book "How to Lose Friends and Alienate People) joins the regular gang of Padma, Tom, and Gail (no more Ted) and the 17 “Top Chef: New York” chef’testants for Top Chef New York City which premieres on Bravo on Wednesday November 12th at 10pm EST.

The following are the 17 new chef’testants's bios. Surprisingly, only one contestant cooks in NYC (she is a sous chef from Centro Vinotecca) but the most interesting contestant may be William Shatner’s private chef. Read on for more information and stay tuned for TOP CHEF!

ALEX
AGE: 33
HOMETOWN: New York, N.Y. – currently resides in Los Angeles, Calif
PROFESSION: Executive Chef, Restaurant 15
CULINARY EDUCATION: International Culinary Education, I.C.E. – New York, N.Y.

FAVORITE FALL RECIPE:  Duck Confit – Duck breast, onions, carrots, celery, cloves, cinnamon, duck fat, fresh herbs
FAVORITE SIMPLE SPRING RECIPE: Red snapper with guava beurre blanc, guavaberry and sweet plantain hash

ARIANE
AGE: 41
HOMETOWN: Verona, N.J.
PROFESSION: Chef/owner of CulinAriane in Montclair, N.J.
CULINARY EDUCATION: AOS, Culinary Institute of America
FAVORITE SPRING RECIPE: Roasted asparagus, artichokes, fava beans and morels on herb goat cheese grilled focaccia

CARLA
AGE:  44
HOMETOWN:  Nashville, Tenn. – currently resides in Washington, D.C.
PROFESSION:  Owner/Chef, Alchemy Caterers
CULINARY EDUCATION:  C.C.T.  L'Academie de Cuisine
FAVORITE SIMPLE SUMMER RECIPE:  Small shaped pasta with hand mashed salted heirloom tomatoes, garlic, red wine vinegar, chilies and a great extra virgin olive oil
FAVORITE SIMPLE SPRING RECIPE: Pea salad with radishes and feta cheese

DANNY
AGE: 26
HOMETOWN: New Hyde Park, N.Y.
PROFESSION:  Executive Chef, Babylon Carriage House
CULINARY EDUCATION:  C.I.A Hyde Park
FAVORITE SIMPLE SUMMER RECIPE:  Fresh calamari salad with pepper, red onions, fresh garlic, lemon, lime, pepper, salt to my liking.

FABIO
AGE: 30
HOMETOWN: Florence, Italy - currently resides in Moorpark, Calif.
PROFESSION: Owner, Cafe Firenze Italian Restaurant Martini Bar. Additionally, Fabio also works as William Shatner's private chef.
CULINARY EDUCATION: I.P.S.S.A.R Aurelio Saffi, Hotel and Restaurant Management School in Florence, Italy
FAVORITE SIMPLE SUMMER RECIPE:  Seared black sea bass, heirloom tomato and purple basil with extra virgin olive oil.
 

GENE
AGE: 33
HOMETOWN: Whitmore Village, Hawaii – currently resides in Las Vegas, Nev.
PROFESSION: Executive Chef, Executive Sushi Chef & Chef Consultant
CULINARY EDUCATION: Self Taught
FAVORITE SPRING RECIPE: Mesclun lettuce, chopped romaine, roasted macadamia nuts, boursin cheese, strawberries and mango yuzu vinaigrette

HOSEA
AGE: 34
HOMETOWN: Taos, N.M. – currently resides in Boulder, Colo.
PROFESSION: Executive Chef, Jax Fish House and Owner, HZR Culinary Consulting, LLC
CULINARY EDUCATION: Self-Taught
FAVORITE SIMPLE SPRING RECIPE: Sea scallops with morels, asparagus, potato puree and Madeira cream sauce

JAMIE
AGE: 30
HOMETOWN: New York City – currently resides in San Francisco, Calif.
PROFESSION: Executive Chef, Absinthe Brasserie and Bar
CULINARY EDUCATION: A.O.S Culinary Arts, C.I.A
FAVORITE SIMPLE SPRING RECIPE: Asparagus Salad with charred onion vinaigrette, Burrata cheese, wild arugula and speck

JEFF  
AGE: 30
HOMETOWN: Niceville, Fla. – currently resides in Miami, Fla.
PROFESSION: Chef de Cuisine, The DiLido Beach Club
CULINARY EDUCATION: Johnson & Wales University
FAVORITE SIMPLE SUMMER RECIPE:  Melon sorbet salad

JILL
AGE: 28
HOMETOWN: Latrobe, Pa. - currently resides in Baltimore, Md.
PROFESSION: Executive Chef, Red Maple
CULINARY EDUCATION: Baltimore International College
FAVORITE SIMPLE SPRING RECIPE: Grilled shrimp with pea tendrils and roastedbaby beets

LAUREN

AGE: 24HOMETOWN: Cincinnati, Ohio – currently stationed at Fort Stewart
PROFESSION: Chef Tournant, Jag's Steak and Seafood
CULINARY EDUCATION: B.P.S. Culinary Arts Management, CIA
FAVORITE SPRING RECIPE: Spring pea mousse in phyllo cups with creme fraiche and caviar


LEAH
AGE: 27
HOMETOWN: Scarsdale, N.Y. – currently resides in New York, N.Y.
PROFESSION: Sous Chef, Centro Vinoteca
CULINARY EDUCATION: A.O.S./ B.A., CIA
FAVORITE SIMPLE SUMMER RECIPE: Ricotta stuffed zucchini blossoms and panzanella salad
 
MELISSA
HOMETOWN: Maryland – currently resides in Boulder, Colo.
PROFESSION: Sous Chef, Centro Latin Kitchen and Refreshment Palace
CULINARY EDUCATION: Baltimore International College
FAVORITE SIMPLE SPRING RECIPE: Spicy snap pea salad

PATRICK
AGE: 21
HOMETOWN: Quincy, Mass. – currently a student at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y.
PROFESSION: Culinary Student
CULINARY EDUCATION: A.O.S Culinary Arts, C.I.A working on BPS Culinary Arts Management
FAVORITE SIMPLE SUMMER RECIPE:  Berries with balsamic, honey, mint, basil and tart yogurt.
FAVORITE SIMPLE SPRING RECIPE:  Fresh pasta with fresh morels sautéed in butter and white wine

RADHIKA  
AGE: 28
HOMETOWN: Chicago, Ill.
PROFESSION: Executive Chef, Between Boutique Café & Lounge
CULINARY EDUCATION: A.O.S. Culinary Arts, The Cooking & Hospitality Institute of Chicago
FAVORITE SIMPLE SUMMER RECIPE: Roasted red and yellow beet salad with mixed greens, herb crusted beef tenderloin and crispy goat cheese balls

RICHARD
AGE: 27
HOMETOWN: Sayville, Long Island, N.Y. – currently resides in San Diego, Calif.
PROFESSION: Executive Sous Chef, Confidential Restaurant & Loft, San Diego
CULINARY EDUCATION: Diplome Professionale du Commis de Cuisine, San Diego Culinary Institute
FAVORITE SPRING RECIPE: Lightly grilled chicken breast, crumbled gorgonzola, dried cranberries, baby spinach salad, all tossed with a light balsamic vinaigrette

STEFAN
AGE: 35
HOMETOWN: Tampere, Finland – currently resides in Santa Monica, Calif.
PROFESSION: Chef, StefansCatering.com
CULINARY EDUCATION: CMC, Wurzburg Schweinfurt
FAVORITE SIMPLE SPRING RECIPE: Wedge of iceberg lettuce with bacon and blue cheese dressing
 

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