Top Chef Winner: "I Was Pretty Shocked"

Kevin Sbraga reveals what he'll do with his $125,000 grand prize

By Marc Malkin Sep 16, 2010 6:15 PMTags
Top Chef, Kevin SbragaJoan Leong/Bravo

Kevin Sbraga was as shocked as he looked last night when Padma Lakshmi announced he was the winner of Top Chef.

"The way they announced it last season was a little bit different and I was thinking about that," the New Jersey native told me earlier today. "They told Kevin Gillespie he was not the Top Chef first and I wasn't sure if that's what she was saying to me or not."

What's Sbraga doing with the $125,000 prize, is Angelo as big-headed as he appeared and what's up with the name of the restaurant he works at now? Read on to find out...

The finale was shot a few weeks ago. Hard to keep it a secret?
It isn't hard to keep my mouth shut. Yeah, I was excited by it, but I didn't want to jeopardize anything.

You really were shocked?
I was pretty shocked. You're standing there and you're feeling all kinds of emotions. You're thinking about your dreams and my dream came true.

Do you think Angelo was hurt by being sick during the final challenge?
I don't know. Maybe, maybe not. I wish he was 100 percent.

Is he as pompous as he appeared on the show?
Angelo is a great guy. We're great friends. He really is a brilliant chef. I don't have anything negative to say about Angelo at all.

What will you do with the money?
I want to open my own restaurant and use that money as seed money to get it opening.

What about the name of where you work now, Rat's Restaurant. Every time I saw the name, I'd think, "Really? Rats?!"
Some people are thrown off by it, but they never forget it. That's how it works.

You grew up and still live in New Jersey. It really is the hot state right now, isn't it?
My restaurant will most likely be in Philadelphia. Where I live in South Jersey, liquor licenses are very, very expensive. I could build an entire restaurant in Philadelphia ground up with what it costs for the liquor license.

Do you watch Real Housewives of New Jersey or Jersey Shore?
I'm not a fan of the Real Housewives, but I am a fan of Jersey Shore. It cracks me up. Tears come rolling down my eyes watching that show. Those people are out of control.

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