Top Chef Winners – Where Are They Now?

On the 25^th of February, Hosea Rosenberg was declared winner of Top Chef.  This was the fifth season of this world-famous show.  It doesn’t matter if you are residing outside the United States; you probably know what the show is.  It’s hard not to know.  It’s even harder not to take notice.  These winners end up with $100,000.  But does this mean that he or she is bound to join the ranks of Ferran Adria and Alain Ducasse anytime soon?  Where are the other winners?  What has happened to them?

Harold Dieterle (First Season Winner)

Harold was the winner of the first season of Top Chef.  Many would agree that he is the most successful of all the show’s winners.  Using the money he won from the show, he opened his own restaurant in New York, the Perilla.  Over the last two years, this dining establishment has received steadily good reviews.  He has been able to keep his business running since 2007.  Curiously, he has shunned the limelight since he won the title.  He refuses to attend reunions, and he deliberately avoids association to the show.

Ilan Hall (Second Season Winner)

Prior to being Top Chef second season winner, Ilan was working at Casa Mono.  After winning the prize, he left the restaurant and went on a culinary exile.  He worked and traveled abroad before he finally settled in Los Angeles.  He worked as a private chef before he finally opened his own restaurant, The Gorbles.

Hung Huynh (Third Season Winner)

Prior to joining Top Chef, Hung Huynh worked as Guy Savoy’s executive sous chef.  After leaving the show, he accepted an executive chef position at Solo, a Mediterranean restaurant located in New York.  He was supposed to be the temporary chef, but his temporary position has seemingly lasted for more than six months now.  However, he does intend to set up his own restaurant where he would offer Asian-Mediterranean cuisine.

Stephanie Izard (Fourth Season Winner)

Stephanie has followed in the footsteps of the previous winners.  She intends to open her own Chicago restaurant, The Drunken Goat.  It is scheduled to open in November of this year.  She intends to offer moderately-priced Mediterranean cuisine.

Top Chef has more seasons to go.  We can only wonder what will happen to the next winners.  Will they live up to the expectations?  What about Hosea Rosenberg?  Will he open his own restaurant?  Will any of these winners join the ranks of the culinary masters one day – or will they always just be the “once-upon-a-time” Top Chef winners?