Top Chef Chicago: Meet the Season 4 Contestantshttp://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-topchefchicago16cheftestants,0,1135317.storyTurn up the heat and bring on the chef'testants. "Top Chef" is heading to the Windy City.
"Top Chef: Chicago," the fourth season of Bravo's popular culinary competition show, will debut on Wednesday, March 12 at 10 p.m. ET/PT with a fresh crop of 16 rising chefs. Returning are host/judge Padma Lakshmi, head judge Tom Colicchio, judge Gail Simmons and judge Ted Allen.
"This season the chefs bring a diverse wealth of talent and skill to the table that we've not seen before," said Colicchio. "The title 'Top Chef' has proven to be an amazing opportunity for these chefs to make a name for themselves in the competitive culinary world."
The last chef standing will receive the coveted title, $100,000 in seed money to help open a restaurant, furnished by the makers of the Glad family of products, a feature in Food & Wine magazine, a showcase at the Annual Food & Wine Classic in Aspen and a gourmet dream vacation in the French Alps.
Although it's too soon to pick favorites, we're partial to Mark because he grew up on sheep farm in New Zealand, Antonia because she's a single mom who loves to cook fresh linguine with white truffles (yum), Dale for his motto, "expect perfectio because if you fall short, you're left with greatness" and Zoi for her name alone.
A complete list of the 16 chef'testants follows:
Andrew
Age: 30
Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, FL –- currently resides in New York City
Profession: Sous Chef in NYC
Culinary Education: A.S. Culinary Arts, Johnson & Wales, North Miami
Favorite Simple Summer Recipe: Diced strawberries, mango, tomato, cucumber, and jicama. Thai dressing (sugar, lime juice, fish sauce and siracha). Thai basil and mint chiffonade.
Antonia
Age: 31
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Profession: Executive Chef, Foxtail, SBE Restaurant Group
Culinary Education: French Culinary Institute
Favorite Simple Spring Recipe: Baby beets with bouchon goat cheese and marcona almonds
Dale
Age: 29
Hometown: Chicago, Il
Profession: Sous Chef at Buddakan
Culinary Education: Culinary Institute Of America
Favorite Simple Spring Recipe: Grilled matsutake mushrooms, shaved myoga, spicy truffled ponzu
Erik
Age: 38
Hometown: Chappaqua, NY -– currently resides in San Francisco, CA
Profession: Executive Chef at Circa Restaurant
Culinary Education: Self-Taught
Favorite Simple Spring Recipe: Spring lamb with fresh spring garlic
Jennifer
Age: 35
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY –- currently resides in San Francisco, CA
Profession: Executive Chef COCO500 Restaurant
Culinary Education: A.O.S Culinary Arts, C.I.A
Favorite Simple Spring Recipe: Spring Lamb's tongue salad, sauce Dragnocello, Mache, olive oil croutons, and mustard fruit
Lisa
Age: 27
Hometown: Toronto, Canada –- currently resides in New York City
Profession: Chef
Culinary Education: A.A.S. culinary arts, B.S. food service management Johnson & Wales University
Favorite Simple Spring Recipe: Chili rubbed lamb with strawberry-rhubarb jam, balsamic reduction and fresh mint
Manuel
Age: 33
Hometown: Laredo, Texas -– currently resides in New York, NY
Profession: Executive Chef, Dos Caminos
Culinary Education: B.A. in Business Administration from St. Mary's University of San Antonio, Texas; A.O.S, New England Culinary Institute, Montpelier, Vermont
Favorite Simple Spring Recipe: Crispy soft shell crabs with charred ramp vinaigrette
Mark
Age: 29
Hometown: Invercargill, New Zealand –- currently resides in New York, NY
Profession: Sous Chef at Public Restaurant in New York City
Culinary Education: Self-Taught
Favorite Simple Spring Recipe: Roast New Zealand venison, minted edamame, wee fella Yorkshire pudding and espresso hollandaise.
Nikki
Age: 35
Hometown: New York, New York
Profession: Chef/co-owner, 24 Prince
Culinary Education: A.O.S Culinary Arts, School of Culinary Arts
Favorite Simple Spring Recipe: Fresh English peas with shallot, grape tomatoes, pecorino cheese and fresh mint
Nimma
Age: 26
Hometown: Peachtree City, GA -– currently resides in Atlanta, GA
Profession: Chef at Repast
Culinary Education: Culinary Institute Of America
Favorite Simple Spring Recipe: Grilled freshly caught fish with some amazing olive oil and sea salt
Richard
Age: 35
Hometown: Uniondale, New York – currently resides in Atlanta, GA
Profession: Chef, culinary designer, Trail-Blais
Culinary Education: AOS Culinary Arts, CIA
Favorite Simple Spring Recipe: Lamb meatballs with rhubarb & strawberry
Ryan
Age: 28
Hometown: Los Banos, CA –- currently resides in San Francisco, CA
Profession: Chef, Myth Cafe
Culinary Education: Associate of Arts, California Culinary Academy
Favorite Simple Spring Recipe: Chilled spring pea soup with Strauss yogurt and dill cucumbers
Spike
Age: 27
Hometown: Clearwater Beach, FL - currently resides in Williamsburg, NY
Profession:Chef de Cuisine, Mai House, Drew Nieporent
Culinary Education: A.O.S Culinary Arts, C.I.A
Favorite Simple Spring Recipe: Lamb or Pig. A good Greek SPOOL lamb (salt, pepper, olive oil and lemon) on a spit.
Stephanie
Age: 31
Hometown: Stamford, CT –- currently resides in Chicago, IL
Culinary Education: University of Michigan (undergrad); Scottsdale Culinary Institute
Favorite Simple Spring Recipe: Anything with green garlic such as gnocchi with clams, white asparagus and green garlic
Valerie
Age: 32
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Profession: Personal Chef
Culinary Education: Culinary Arts, Kendall College, Chicago
Favorite Simple Spring Recipe: Pork pot stickers
Zoi
Age: 30
Hometown: Seattle, WA -– currently resides in San Francisco, CA
Profession: Chef/Restaurant Consultant
Culinary Education: Self-Taught
Favorite Simple Spring Recipe: Roasted baby California lamb with artichokes, spring onions, lemon and rosemary