Debuting in 2006, Top Chef quickly developed into one of the most impressive reality television competition series in the world. It takes some of the best professional chefs around and pits them against each other in some of the most fun challenges you can find anywhere.
While the series is in its 18th season, fans often look back at the early iterations to find some of their favorite chefs. Most of them have remained relevant and show up from time to time on other cooking shows while some are barely in the spotlight anymore. With a new season starting, it's a good time to check in on the first set of winners.
Harold Dieterle
Harold Dieterle will always have the distinction of being the first Top Chef winner in history. He only won two elimination challenges along the way and two Quickfires but still managed to end up taking home the crown in the end. Dieterle was known for his impressive duck dishes.
Dieterle went on to open his own restaurant after winning his season before adding a few more. He also worked as a consultant for Feed the Beast, an AMC series. Following the closure of his gluten-free restaurant, Dieterle became a consultant for other restaurants.
Ilan Hall
Taking place in Los Angeles, the second season of Top Chef saw Padma Lakshmi get introduced as the host, a position she still holds today. The winner was Ilan Hall, who won two elimination challenges and a team Quickfire.
When Hall won, he was a line cook but after taking the crown, he too opened his own restaurant. He also acted as a host for Knife Fight, a cooking competition series that ended a few years back. Currently, Hall is the owner of a vegan restaurant called Ramen Hood.
Hung Huynh
Nobody will mistake Hung Huynh for one of the show's most popular contestants. That was all part of what made him so good though. Huynh didn't seem to care what anyone thought about him and that level of confidence carried over into his outstanding food.
He won four Quickfire challenges and one elimination en route to winning the whole thing. Huynh returned to Top Chef as a guest judge on a few occasions and worked at several restaurants. That includes ones centered on seafood and Asian fusion. Huynh also took a chef de cuisine position at a restaurant in Disney Springs.
Stephanie Izard
Similar to Harold Dieterle, Stephanie Izard will forever get to go down in history. She was the show's first female winner and would remain the only one for over half a decade. On her season, she won five elimination challenges and two Quickfires.
Since her time as a contestant, Izard has shown back up as a judge multiple times and was executive chef at a handful of award-winning restaurants. By the time she was 27, Izard had opened her own resaturant and went on to beat legendary names to become an Iron Chef. These days, she continues to run places like Girl & The Goat and has helped out a ton during the pandemic.
Hosea Rosenberg
It could be argued that the most likable cast in Top Chef history was from the fifth season. It's totally understandable when you consider that it featured both Carla Hall and Fabio Viviani. Though both are currently bigger names, the season was actually won by Hosea Rosenberg.
During the competition, Rosenberg won two elimination challenges and a Quickfire. He hasn't come back all that often for future Top Chef seasons but he still remains active. In fact, Rosenberg runs currently runs Santo, a Colorado restaurant focusing on local food. He has also been working hard to help his daughter with her rare condition.
Michael Voltaggio
A lot of fans often point to the sixth season as the best in franchise history. The Las Vegas setting allowed for a fun twist on challenges and the cast was filled with extremely talented chefs. At the top of that list is Michael Voltaggio, who beat out his brother to win it all.
Voltaggio won three elimination challenges and two Quickfires while also only being in danger of going home a single time. He has since opened several restaurants, including a steakhouse with his brother. Voltaggio can be seen on shows such as Guy's Grocery Games and competing on Tournament of Champions.
Kevin Sbraga
Considering the praise that the previous installment received, there was a lot riding on Top Chef season seven to live up to it. While it didn't quite do that, that doesn't change the fact that Kevin Sbraga was a solid chef, even if he didn't exactly dominate his opponents.
In fact, Sbraga only won a single elimination challenge and one team Quickfire. Like some other winners, he hasn't shown back up a bunch in later seasons. Sbraga had a few restaurants close and went off to re-evaluate things in regards to his future as a chef.
Richard Blais
If there's one former Top Chef winner who you can almost guarantee to see on your television screens at any given time, it's Richard Blais. The guy is basically everywhere these days. That includes hosting various shows, opening his own restaurants, and even a cameo in 2016's Why Him?
Blais is an interesting case because he lost his first time around. After being a runner-up, he won the All-Stars season by coming out with the victory in four elimination and Quickfire challenges. Blais competed on Tournament of Champions and appears in the newest Top Chef season as a judge.
Paul Qui
It's certainly high praise when head judge Tom Colicchio calls you the most talented chef in the history of the series. That's the case for Paul Qui, who was voted the winner of Top Chef's ninth season. He won a whopping eight elimination challenges and two Quickfires.
Unfortunately, things haven't been all that great for Qui after the show. He had a restaurant opening cut short when his partners opted out following a 2016 assault arrest. On a positive note, Qui has been working towards rehabilitating his career since.
Kristen Kish
Kristen Kish has gone on to be one of the most popular and likable winners in Top Chef history. On her season, she beat out the always impressive Brooke Williamson and made some history along the way. After being eliminated, she won Last Chance Kitchen and came back to win the whole thing, being the first person to do so.
Overall, Kish won four elimination challenges and a Quickfire. Since then, she has returned as a judge and hosts a show titled 36 Hours on the Travel Channel. Most recently, she stars as one of three hosts on the delightful Fast Foodies and she runs Arlo Grey in Austin, Texas.