'Top Chef: Las Vegas' Chef Bios

Eva Aronoff
Eva Aronoff
AGE: 40
HOMETOWN: Ann Arbor, Mich.
PROFESSION: Chef-Owner, Eve
CULINARY EDUCATION: Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, France
FAVORITE SIMPLE SUMMER RECIPE: Salad of Ripe Tomatoes, Avocado, Red Onion and Fresh Lime – with Mozzarella di Bufala and some good bread
COOKBOOK: Eve: Contemporary Cuisine, Methode Traditionelle
• Video | Official bio
Jennifer Carroll
Jennifer Carroll
AGE: 33
HOMETOWN: Philadelphia, Pa.
PROFESSION: Chef de Cuisine 10 Arts by Eric Ripert
CULINARY EDUCATION: The Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College, Philadelphia
FAVORITE SIMPLE SUMMER RECIPE: Compressed Watermelon, Chesapeake Bay Jumbo Lump Crab, Fennel Pollen and Wild Boar Prosciutto Chips
ALWAYS KEEPS AROUND: Fine sea salt, espellate citron vinegar, black peppercorns, high fat unsalted butter and setia extra virgin olive oil
• Video | Official bio
Ron Duprat
Ron Duprat
AGE: 40
HOMETOWN: Mare Rouge, Haiti—currently resides in Hollywood, Fla. and Naples, Fla.
PROFESSION: Executive Chef
CULINARY EDUCATION: College Aimee Cesaire and La Varenne Ecole de Cuisine
FAVORITE SIMPLE SUMMER RECIPE: Jumbo Scallop, Sweet Chili Tahini Sauce, Watermelon and Avocado Slaw.
ALWAYS KEEPS AROUND: Vanilla bean, saffron, truffles, Spanish olive oil and chocolate
• Video | Official bio
Ash Fulk
Ash Fulk
AGE: 29
HOMETOWN: Pleasant Hill, Calif. – currently resides in New York City
PROFESSION: Sous Chef at Trestle on Tenth
CULINARY EDUCATION: Self Taught
FAVORITE SIMPLE SUMMER RECIPE: Grilled Corn on the Cob with Mayonnaise – with a sweet tea to wash it down
FAVORITE CHEFS INCLUDE: Dan Barber and Claudia Fleming
• Video | Official bio
Kevin Gillespie
Kevin Gillespie
AGE: 26
HOMETOWN: Atlanta, Ga.
PROFESSION: Executive Chef & Partner, Woodfire Grill
CULINARY EDUCATION: Art Institute of Atlanta
FAVORITE SIMPLE SUMMER RECIPE: Creamed silver queen corn with a warm salad of small tomatoes and pole beans
ALWAYS KEEPS AROUND: Banyuls vinegar, smoked pork, espelette pepper, lemon oil and lard
• Video | Official bio
Mike Isabella
Mike Isabella
AGE: 34
HOMETOWN: North Jersey – currently resides in Washington, D.C.
PROFESSION: Executive Chef, Zaytinya
CULINARY EDUCATION: Self-Taught
FAVORITE SIMPLE SUMMER RECIPE: Squash Blossoms
ALWAYS KEEPS AROUND: Olive oil, sea salt, lemon, dill and chives
• Video | Official bio
Eli Kirshtein
Eli Kirshtein
AGE: 25
HOMETOWN: Atlanta, Ga.
PROFESSION: Executive Chef, Eno Restaurant and Wine Bar
CULINARY EDUCATION: A.O.S. Culinary Arts, C.I.A
FAVORITE SIMPLE SUMMER RECIPE: Sous-Vide Octopus, Watermelon, Lemon Vinegar, and Nasturtiums
• Video | Official bio
Robin Leventhal
Robin Leventhal
AGE: 43
HOMETOWN: Sun Valley, Idaho – currently resides in Seattle, Wash.
PROFESSION: Chef, Artist and Teacher
CULINARY EDUCATION: Self-Taught
FAVORITE SIMPLE SUMMER RECIPE: Grilled Corn and Avocado Salad with a great piece of fish or meat
• Video | Official bio
Ashley Merriman
Ashley Merriman
AGE: 32
HOMETOWN: Center Sandwich, N.H. – currently resides in Seattle, Wash.
PROFESSION: Chef at Branzino in Seattle, Wash.
CULINARY EDUCATION: Institute of Culinary Education, New York, N.Y.
FAVORITE SIMPLE SUMMER RECIPE: Pan-Fried Soft Shell Crabs with Ramps and Morels
ALWAYS KEEPS AROUND: Extra virgin olive oil, champagne vinegar, lemons and thyme
• Video | Official bio
Preeti Mistry
Preeti Mistry
AGE: 33
HOMETOWN: San Francisco, Calif.
PROFESSION: Executive Chef, Google, Bon Appetit Management Company
CULINARY EDUCATION: Le Cordon Bleu, London
FAVORITE SIMPLE SUMMER RECIPE: Fennel Crust Marin Sun Farms’ Rack of Lamb, Saffron Parsnip Puree, Heirloom Carrot and English Pea Ragout with Pinot Noir Reduction
IF SHE WERE A FOOD: "I would be a green zebra tomato – extremely distinctive from all the others, a little hard on the outside, but pure love at the center."
• Video | Official bio
Mattin Noblia
Mattin Noblia
AGE: 29
HOMETOWN: Biarritz, France – currently resides in San Francisco, Calif.
PROFESSION: Owner, Iluna Basque
CULINARY EDUCATION: C.A.P. de cuisine in southern France, the Basque Region
FAVORITE SIMPLE SUMMER RECIPE: Grilled Sardines and Fresh Tomato Sauce, or Boudin Noire with Caramelized Apples, or Stuffed Calamari in Ink Sauce over Rice
LAST MEAL: A candle-lit dinner for himself and Jessica Alba
• Video | Official bio
Jesse Sandlin
Jesse Sandlin
AGE: 30
HOMETOWN: Baltimore, Md.
PROFESSION: Executive Chef, Abacrombie Fine Foods
CULINARY EDUCATION: Self-Taught
FAVORITE SIMPLE SUMMER RECIPE: Julienned Summer Squash Tossed with Lemon, Heirloom Cherry Tomatoes, Basil, Salt, Cracked Black Pepper, and a Little Bit of Butter
ALWAYS KEEPS AROUND: Bacon, butter, duck fat, cumin and trash bags
• Video | Official bio
Hector Santiago
Hector Santiago
AGE: 41
HOMETOWN: San Juan, Puerto Rico – currently resides in Atlanta, Ga.
PROFESSION: Chef-Owner, Pura Vida (Latino Tapas Restaurant & Bar)
CULINARY EDUCATION: AOS Culinary Arts, Culinary Institute of America
FAVORITE SIMPLE SUMMER RECIPE: Charcoal Grilled Skirt steak with a Vegetable Ceviche (celery, radishes, tomatoes and whatever else is available from local farmers)
• Video | Official bio
Bryan Voltaggio
Bryan Voltaggio
AGE: 33
HOMETOWN: Frederick, Md.—currently resides in Urbana, Md.
PROFESSION: Chef/Partner, VOLT Restaurant
CULINARY EDUCATION: A.O.S Culinary Arts, C.I.A.
FAVORITE SIMPLE SUMMER RECIPE: Marinated Grilled Hanger Steak, Silver Queen Corn and Fava Bean Succotash, Cherokee Purple Heriloom Tomatoes, Rick’s Arugula
• Video | Official bio
Michael Voltaggio
Michael Voltaggio
AGE: 30
HOMETOWN: Frederick, Md. – currently resides in Los Angeles, Calif.
PROFESSION: Chef de Cuisine at The Dining Room, Langham Huntington Hotel & Spa
CULINARY EDUCATION: The Greenbrier Hotel Culinary Apprenticeship Program
FAVORITE SIMPLE SUMMER RECIPE: Soft Poached Egg with Morel Mushrooms, Fava Beans, Jamon Iberico Consommé
• Video | Official bio
Lauren Wickett
Laurine Wickett
AGE: 38
HOMETOWN: Rochester, N.Y. – currently resides in San Francisco, Calif.
PROFESSION: Chef / Owner Left Coast Catering
CULINARY EDUCATION: A.O.S Culinary Arts, C.I.A
FAVORITE SIMPLE SUMMER RECIPE: Grilled corn salad with summer beans and chanterelles
• Video | Official bio
Jen Zavala
Jen Zavala
AGE: 31
HOMETOWN: Cromwell, Conn. – currently resides in Philadelphia, Pa.
PROFESSION: Sous Chef, Xochitl
CULINARY EDUCATION: Self-taught
FAVORITE SIMPLE SUMMER RECIPE: Fiddle Head Ferns Sauteed in Butter Garlic Wine and Crushed Red Pepper
LAST MEAL: With Julia Child, and, "Hopefully, she'd cook"
• Video | Official bio

• Bio information courtesy of Bravo TV