Summary
- Daniel Harthausen quietly celebrated his win on The Big Brunch before returning to his normal life as the Bar Manager of Restaurant Adarra in Richmond, Virginia.
- Daniel's restaurant, Young Mother, has gained even more popularity since his victory on the show, with plans for a brick-and-mortar location in Richmond by 2023.
- The Big Brunch stood out with its talented contestants, inclusive environment, and unique concept, leading to a large following and speculation about future seasons.
After weeks of tough competition, Daniel Harthausen walked away from The Big Brunch as its first winner, and here's what he's been up to since then. The series was created and hosted by Schitt's Creek mastermind Dan Levy and featured ten talented chefs who itched to create the best brunch dishes in the hopes of winning the $300,000 grand prize. Daniel, a chef from Richmond, Virginia, was joined by Antwon Brinson, Catie Randazzo, Danielle Sepsy, J. Chong, Kelly Jones, Kip Poole, Mason Zeglen, Nadege Fleurimond, and Roman Wilcox. The contestants battled it out over eight episodes.
By the time The Big Brunch finale aired on Thanksgiving Day, only three contenders remained: baking expert Danielle, Cantonese chef J., and Daniel, who paid homage to his Korean culture with deliciously inspired plates. All three business owners impressed Dan and fellow judges Sohla El-Waylly and Will Guidara with how they would invest the $300,000 jackpot. However, it was Daniel's Katsu curry that tied the bow on his impressive track record. While Daniel was relatively undiscovered before he made his television debut, his life quickly turned around after he was introduced on The Big Brunch.
Daniel Harthausen Returned To His Normal Life (For A Time)
While the city of Richmond has certainly celebrated Daniel's win since he was crowned the victor of The Big Brunch, Richmond Times-Dispatch revealed that Daniel's life didn't change much when he returned home. To ensure The Big Brunch would remain spoiler-free, Daniel quietly celebrated his win alone before he left Los Angeles, although he did tell his girlfriend Megan the great news. “After about a couple of weeks, I was just back in my own rhythm,” Daniel told the publication. Bound to secrecy, Daniel returned to his position as the Bar Manager of Restaurant Adarra.
Daniel Harthausen's Pop-Up Restaurant Soared In Popularity
While The Big Brunch alum has an impressive culinary resume with tremendous bar experience, Daniel's restaurant is his crowning achievement. As Young Mother's chef and owner, Daniel's Korean and Japanese-inspired eatery was well-known to Richmond foodies before The Big Brunch. However, since Daniel emerged as the victor, Young Mother gets more inquiries than ever. In an interview with Virginia's Travel Blog, Daniel, who revealed that his favorite meal is Pho, talked about Young Mother's future and teased, "I’m hoping to have a brick-and-mortar by 2023 here in Richmond, Virginia." While this has yet to occur, the pop-up remains immensely popular.
Although there are plenty of culinary competitions out there, Daniel and the other contestants stood out on The Big Brunch, which quickly gained a large following upon its premiere. Besides the hefty talent featured and the wholesome attitudes of Dan, Sohla, and Will, the show's unique concept and inclusive environment already have viewers asking if another season is in the works. In the meantime, fans of The Big Brunch can keep an eye out for Daniel's future endeavors and, if all goes well, Young Mother's eventual transformation.
The Big Brunch is available to stream on HBO Max.
Sources: Richmond Times-Dispatch, Virginia's Travel Blog, Young Mother/Instagram, Daniel Harthausen/Instagram