Meet Top Chef's Season 18 Contestants

Get to know all 15 of the chef-testants who will battle it out when Bravo's Top Chef Portland premieres tonight.

By Brett Malec Apr 01, 2021 1:00 PMTags
Watch: Padma Lakshmi Gushes Over Yummy "Top Chef" Foods

The title of Top Chef is once again up for grabs.

Season 18 of Top Chef premieres tonight on Bravo and 15 new contestants will begin their journey towards the $250,000 prize. With the city of Portland as its backdrop, the chef-testants and restaurant owners will "compete in a variety of challenges including celebrating PDX's Pan-African cuisine to feeding hundreds of frontline workers and crabbing on the Oregon Coast in a tribute to culinary icon and Oregonian James Beard."

And of course, fan favorite judges Padma Lakshi, Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons will bring their fierce expertise each week until a winner is crowned.

So who are the culinary masters competing for the season 18 title? Scroll through the photo gallery below to meet all 15 of the contestants who will put their skills to the test when Top Chef premieres tonight and learn about their backgrounds, talents and backstories.

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Top Chef Winners: Where Are They Now?

Top Chef premieres tonight, Apr. 1 at 8 p.m. on Bravo.

Catch up on Top Chef any time on Peacock.

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Maria Mazon, Tucson, AZ

Executive Chef/Owner, BOCA Tacos y Tequila

Chef Maria Mazon is the Executive Chef and Owner of BOCA Tacos y Tequila in Tucson, Arizona. Born in Tucson but raised in Sonora, Mexico, Maria's cuisine is inspired by both sides of her borderland home. Using the unique flavors and ingredients of the Sonoran Desert, Maria's experimental take on classic Mexican fare have earned her local and national accolades including The New York Times. She has been pushing the boundaries for years, introducing to people unique flavors and exotic ingredients. In 2020, Maria became a James Beard Award semi-finalist for Best Chef in the Southwest Region. When not at the restaurant, Maria loves cooking for her wife, Lilly, and their 12-year-old son.

Avishar Barua, Columbus, OH

Executive Chef & GM, Service Bar

Avishar Barua is the Executive Chef and General Manager of Service Bar in Columbus, Ohio. Born in Columbus, Ohio to immigrant parents who left Bangladesh in search of better opportunities in America, Avishar pursued his true passion of cooking after getting bachelor's degrees in biology and psychology at The Ohio State University. After attending culinary school, he went to New York City and trained under Wylie Dufresne at Michelin starred WD~50. He returned to Ohio to open Service Bar for Middle West Spirits, a local grain to glass distiller, where he has since gained national recognition from FOOD & WINE Magazine for his signature dish, the Cheesy Brisket Crunch.

Gabe Erales, Austin, TX

Chef

Chef Gabe Erales was born and raised in the culturally rich border town of El Paso, TX.  Heavily influenced by his family's Mexican culture, Gabe formed an early appreciation for the food his parents prepared which ignited his passion for cooking. Gabe began working in kitchens at the age of 15 before moving to Austin, TX, to attend college at the University of Texas where he graduated with both a bachelor's and master's degree in Mechanical Engineering. During this time, Gabe realized his true calling remained in the kitchen and concurrently completed culinary school at Le Cordon Bleu Austin. As the soul of his cooking lies in Mexican cuisine, he spent time working for some of Austin's most notable Chefs such as the late Miguel Ravago at The Fonda San Miguel, Rene Ortiz at La Condesa and Jesse Griffiths of Dai Due. He also draws inspiration from his experience in the kitchen at Noma in both Copenhagen and Mexico. Gabe's cooking philosophy strives to focus on locality through strength in relationships with local farmers including sourcing unique varieties of landrace corn, chiles and other ingredients from different regions of Mexico.  Most recently, he served as Executive Chef of Comedor Restaurant, a Mexican restaurant in the heart of downtown Austin, TX, that was voted Best New Restaurant by Esquire Magazine (2019), Austin Monthly (2019), and Texas Monthly (2020). Married with four children, he is currently working on a new restaurant concept that he hopes to announce soon.

Sasha Grumman, Houston, TX

Executive Chef

Raised in a large Sicilian family where food was the central focus for family gatherings, Sasha Grumman went to the French Culinary Institute in New York and spent her last three months at ALMA culinary school in Parma, Italy. After staging at the Michelin-starred Giuda Ballerino in Rome, she graduated at the top of her class and moved to San Francisco to work at Delfina Restaurant. After cooking for notable chefs, in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Austin, she landed in Houston as the Executive Chef of Rosalie Italian Soul. In Los Angeles, she worked as "Top Chef" Alum Bruce Kalman's Chef de Cuisine at Union. During the pandemic, Sasha has started a focaccia business that she hopes to take national.

Roscoe Hall, Birmingham, AL

Chef/Artist/Father

Roscoe Hall is not only a chef, but also an accomplished artist who works in a variety of media. He was introduced to fine dining at a young age and immediately wanted to get into the kitchen. He started as a dishwasher at a small local restaurant until he landed a job as a line cook at Chez Panisse, where he trained for two years under Alice Waters. He then moved up the culinary ranks learning various cuisines at multiple restaurants in St. Louis and Portland, before heading to New York City to work under Chef David Chang at Momofuku Saam Bar. He later moved to Birmingham, AL and served as Executive Chef for Rodney Scott's BBQ. With a kick ass wife and two hilarious children, Roscoe recently took on a new role as culinary director for Post Office Pies and is working on an exhibition of his latest art.

Jamie Tran, Las Vegas, NV

Chef/Owner, The Black Sheep

Jamie Tran is the chef and owner of Las Vegas' The Black Sheep, where she serves her original take on casual modern Vietnamese American food in an elevated neighborhood environment. The name is an homage to Jamie's playfully rebellious spirit and her drive to break through a male-dominated industry.

Jamie's cooking journey began when she was only four years old. She made her first dish standing on top of a milk crate to cook fried rice with her mother. After graduating from San Francisco State with a business degree and then Le Cordon Bleu, Jamie saw the emerging food scene in Las Vegas and moved there to be a part-time line-cook at Charlie Palmer's Aureole. She honed her craft under Executive Chef Vincent Pouessel, climbing the ranks to executive Sous Chef. She then went to the banquets department at The Venetian, before being recruited for the executive chef role at DB Brasserie by Daniel Boulud. After opening The Black Sheep, Eater Las Vegas honored Jamie with Chef of the Year and Restaurant of the Year.

Byron Gomez, Aspen, CO

Executive Chef at 7908

Born in Costa Rica but raised in New York, Chef Byron Gomez is the Executive Chef of 7908, Aspen's finest supper club. Bryon has trained and worked at some of the most prestigious restaurants in Manhattan, under the best chefs and mentors in the industry including Daniel Boulud, Gavin Kaysen, Daniel Humm and Ronny Emborg. Despite not having any formal training, he worked hard to be self-taught, advancing his way through the kitchens of Michelin starred restaurants, Café Boulud, Atera and Eleven Madison Park. As Sous Chef at EMP, the restaurant won Top Restaurant in the World by S. Pellegrino. He later traveled with the Eleven Madison Park teams to their pop-up restaurants in the Hamptons and Aspen, before deciding to settle down in the Rocky Mountains. Byron enjoys seasonal activities such as cycling, snowboarding and surfing, but his favorite activity is to cook and break bread, especially on his days off.

Shota Nakajima, Seattle, WA

Chef/Owner, Taku

Born in Japan and raised in Seattle, Shota Nakajima began his culinary journey at age 16 working for a highly acclaimed sushi restaurant. At age 18 he moved to Osaka, Japan to learn the art of Japanese cuisine from Michelin Star rated Chef Yasuhiko Sakamoto, an experience that greatly changed Shota's perspective on hospitality, cooking and his approach to food. Developing his own meticulous and imaginative culinary detail, and a stringent demand for high-quality, Shota set out to expand Japanese cuisine in the United States by bringing a fresh perspective on approachable Japanese comfort food through his two restaurants, Taku and Adana. A James Beard Award semi-finalist for three years running, Shota seizes every opportunity to get outside and forage or fish, taking advantage of the abundance of wild goods in Washington's mountains and waters.

Chris Viaud, Milford, NH

Chef/Owner of Greenleaf and Culture

Chris Viaud is the Chef and Owner of Greenleaf and Culture, both located in Milford, New Hampshire. Raised in the Boston suburb of Randolph with his parents who immigrated from Haiti, Chris moved to Londonderry, NH and upon graduating high school attended Johnson & Wales University where he received a bachelor's degree in Culinary Arts & Food Service Management. After completing culinary school, he returned to Boston where he spent three of his most formative years at Modern French restaurant, Deuxave, where he worked his way through the ranks alongside Executive Chef and Owner Chris Coombs, "Top Chef" alum Adrienne Mosier and acclaimed Chef Stefanie Bui. Since Deuxave, he has been an essential part of four restaurant openings in the Massachusetts and New Hampshire area. At 28 years old, Chris opened his own restaurant Greenleaf in Milford, NH. His approach to food is rustic yet refined by classic techniques and his menus are driven by locally grown seasonal products. A year later, he opened Culture, a from scratch bakery producing artisanal breads, sandwiches and pastries while supporting local farms. His strength and motivation build from the support of his family, friends and staff and he continues to push himself every day, especially now that he has a young daughter named Madeleine.

Nelson German, Oakland, CA

Executive Chef/Owner, alaMar Kitchen and Sobre Mesa Afro-Latino cocktail lounge

A Dominican-American hailing from Washington Heights, NY, Chef Nelson German is the Executive Chef/Owner of alaMar Kitchen and Sobre Mesa Afro-Latino cocktail lounge, both located in Oakland. He received his culinary training at the NY Art Institute where he learned the foundation of Mediterranean-style cooking incorporating French techniques. He worked his way up from line cook to Executive Chef in New York staples like Gramercy Park Hotel, Jerry's Café, Joseph's and Citarella. He believes in letting his food tell the stories of his journey, derived from childhood memories, inspirational travels, food escapades and his own original ideas. After meeting the love of his life, Chef Nelson and his fiancée relocated to her hometown in the San Francisco Bay Area where he joined Supper Club SF and adopted a new-found appreciation for California cuisine. His unorthodox culinary style draws from his Dominican heritage, his African roots, his embrace of Mediterranean cuisine and Asian influence, coupled with his love of California ingredients that are local and sustainable.

Sara Hauman, Portland, OR

Head Chef, Soter Vineyards

Chef Sara grew up in Vista, CA, a small town in north San Diego County. After graduating high school, Sara moved to the south of Spain where food became an obsession and ultimately fueled her decision to return to the states to attend culinary school. At the age of 22, Sara relocated to San Francisco and worked with Brandon Jew at Bar Agricole which shaped her simple approach to food. In 2013, Sara returned to Spain to work at famed restaurant Asador Etxebarri. This experience propelled Sara into her first head chef position at Huxley in San Francisco where she garnered many accolades and awards, including a 3-star review from the San Francisco Chronicle, Eater Young Guns, Zagat 30 under 30, and a James Beard semi-finalist Rising Star Chef in 2016 and 2017. Chef Sara was also named Rising Star Chef for the San Francisco Chronicle while working as chef de cuisine under Melissa Perello at one-Michelin starred restaurant Octavia and also reconnected with Brandon Jew at one-Michelin starred restaurant Mister Jiu's. She currently works as the head chef at Soter Vineyards in Carlton, OR and resides in Portland.

Brittanny Anderon, Richmond, VA

Chef and Co-Owner of Metzger Bar and Butchery, Brenner Pass, and Black Lodge, Richmond, VA. Leni, Washington, D.C

Two-time James Beard Award semi-finalist for the for Best Chef Mid-Atlantic, Brittanny Anderson is the Chef and Co-Owner of four establishments, Metzger Bar and Butchery, Brenner Pass, and Black Lodge in Richmond, VA and Leni in Washington, D.C. After attending the French Culinary Institute in New York City, Brittanny sought out an apprenticeship at Blue Hill at Stone Barn where she extensively learned about sustainability and local sourcing of true farm to table cuisine. She then went on to be a part of the opening team of Northern Spy Food Co. in Manhattan's East Village where she worked her way up as Sous Chef before returning to her native Virginia to open her own restaurant. In 2014, Brittanny opened Metzger which focuses on German influenced dishes with an emphasis on seasonal and sustainable ingredients. She strives to transform classic cuisine with modern presentation and local ingredients. With the success of Metzger, both locally and nationally, Brittanny has expanded her brand with a second chef-driven modern European restaurant, a seafood distribution business, a curated cheese company, coffee shop and bar. She currently lives outside of Richmond, VA with her husband, Kjell and their dog and two cats.

Dawn Burrell, Houston, TX

Partner/Executive Chef, Lucille's Hospitality Group

Olympian turned Chef, Dawn Burrell's world travels with USA's Track & Field team ignited her deep love for the language of food. After competing in the 2000 Summer Olympics, Dawn traded in her track spikes for a full-time culinary career and enrolled in Culinary Arts at the Art Institute of Houston. She cut her teeth with a variety of chefs, including Chef Tom Aikens in

London and Houston's Monica Pope, before landing a gig at Tyson Cole's Uchi in Houston. Chef Dawn went on to become the sous chef at Uchi's award-winning sister restaurant, Uchiko, in Austin. An Executive Chef title at modern Southern restaurant Kulture followed where she honed her signature "global comfort" cooking style and earned her first James Beard nomination for "Best Chef: Texas" in 2020. She departed during the pandemic and recently joined Chef Chris Williams' Lucille's Hospitality Group as Partner/Executive Chef of her very first proprietary concept exploring Afro-Asian cuisine.

Gabriel Pascuzzi, Portland, OR

Chef/Owner, Mama Bird, Stacked Sandwich Shop and Feel Good

Gabriel Pascuzzi is the chef and owner of three restaurants in Portland, Oregon – Mama Bird, Stacked Sandwich Shop and Feel Good. Growing up in an Italian American household, his love of food started at a young age. He grew up visiting his uncle's acclaimed restaurant in Big Fork, Montana washing lettuce and peeling shrimp in exchange for a slice of pie. After apprenticing for his uncle during high school, he went on to Johnson & Wales University receiving a bachelor's degree in Culinary Arts. Gabriel then cut his teeth in New York City working for Daniel Boulud and head judge Tom Colicchio at Colicchio & Sons. He later staged at the world renowned and two Michelin star restaurant Noma in Copenhagen. Returning home, he helmed several kitchens before opening his first restaurant, Stacked Sandwich Shop in 2017. Stacked has been named on Thrillist's Top 31 Sandwich Shops in America. Gabriel also took home Eater Portland's Chef of the Year in 2017. In 2019, he opened Mama Bird six months before the pandemic hit.

Kiki Louya, Detroit, MI

Chef / Consultant

Detroit native Kiki Louya is a chef, writer, food activist and restaurant consultant. The New York Times named her one of "16 Black Chefs Changing Food in America" because of her pursuit for social justice, use of local agriculture, and fight for fair wages at her restaurants. Kiki received critical acclaim for her work as Chef/Owner of Detroit's Folk & The Farmer's Hand, two award winning restaurants, before eventually stepping down from leadership in March 2020. The daughter of a Congolese immigrant, Kiki draws inspiration from her own cultural background, often using food as a conduit for deeper discussions around what it means to be Black in America. She is a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu, as well as The University of Michigan, and has given lectures about her expertise on food, farming and entrepreneurship with students at Yale and Georgetown. When not in the kitchen, Kiki is tending to her wild vegetable garden alongside her husband and two rambunctious rescue pit bulls.

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