Top Chef Masters- Meet The Chefs

Chef Douglas Rodriguez - Florida

From Bravo Bio -Douglas Rodriguez started his culinary studies at Johnson and Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island. Rodriguez is well known for being the "Godfather" of Latin Cuisine and coining the phrase “Nuevo Latino” in his first book in 1997. As Chef/Founder of Patria Restaurant, he received a 3-star review in The New York Times. James Beard Award Winner for “Rising Star Chef” in 1996, Rodriguez currently has Alma De Cuba in Philadelphia, Deseo in Scottsdale, Arizona and OLA Miami in South Beach. In 2003, he moved back to Miami to Open OLA Restaurant. Rodriguez is currently nominated for "Best Chef South Region" for the 2009 James Beard Awards.

Competing for: AYUDA for the Arts

Chef - John Besh - Louisiana

John Besh is the executive chef and co-owner of the Besh Restaurant Group based in New Orleans. His collection of restaurants include August, featured twice on Gourmet Magazine’s list of “Best Restaurants in the U.S.,” La Provence, Lüke, and Besh Steak. His first solo-authored cookbook will make its way to the stores this fall 2009. He has been honored with a number of awards such as Food & Wine's “Ten Best New Chefs” in America in 1999, “Best Chef in the Southeast” by the James Beard Foundation in 2006, and the Sundance Iconoclasts series featured him in 2007 as a creative visionary whose passion helped transform a culture.



Competing for: Make It Right

Chef Ludo Lefebvre - California

After training in Paris for 13 years at Restaurant L’Esperance with Marc Meneau, Restaurant Pierre Gagnaire, Arpege with Alain Passard and Le Grande Vefour with Guy Martin, Lefebvre moved to Los Angeles to work at L’Orangerie. He was promoted to head chef at the age of 25 and made L’Orangerie one of the top-rated restaurants in California, receiving the Mobil Five Star Award.


Lefebvre then moved on to Bastide where he also received the prestigious Mobil Five Star Award. Lefebvre was a nominee for the James Beard Foundation “Rising Chef Award” in 2001 and released his first cookbook, "CRAVE, a Feast of the Five Senses" in 2005. Lefebvre recently was tapped by the Tao Group to create the menu for LAVO in Las Vegas and is now back in Los Angeles to open Ludo Bites in the Spring of 2009. He currently resides in California with his wife, Kristine.


Competing for: C.H.A.S.E. for Life

Chef Jonathan Waxman - New York

From Bravo Bio -Working as a successful chef, restaurateur and author, Jonathan Waxman has graced such prestigious kitchens as Chez Panisse in Berkeley and Michael’s in Los Angeles. Waxman went on to open his own restaurant in New York City – Jams, as well as the famed Washington Park. Today, Waxman is the chef and owner of Barbuto in Manhattan's West Village. His first cookbook, A Great American Cook, was published in 2007. Giving back is important to Waxman and he works closely with many charities including City Meals on Wheels. He currently lives in Manhattan with his wife and three children.


Competing for: Meals On Wheels