Meet the Chefs Competing on Tournament of Champions Season 5

Sharpen those knives and fire up your appetites because Guy Fieri’s Tournament of Champions is back for a fifth season. And, if the chefs competing in this year’s bracket are any indication, this could be the most competitive season yet.

Not only are 32 talented chefs from the East and West Coasts meeting up for an epic cookoff, but the challenges are tougher, too. The chefs have no idea who their opponents are, nor what challenges the randomizer will dish out, plus a blind judging process means only the best of the best will stand out.

Want to know more about the men and women entering this Tournament for their chance at a coveted $150,000 prize? Read on to learn more about these seasoned chefs. Watch Tournament of Champions on Food Network Canada. Stream Live or On-Demand with STACKTV. Try it free today!

West Coast Chefs Competing in Tournament of Champions Season Five

Adam Sobel

The award-winning chef and restaurant owner is a Culinary Institute of American grad with a penchant for cooking pork and other meats. He’s previously served as a judge on Chopped and appeared on Guy’s Ranch Kitchen.

Related: 30-Minute Meals Inspired by Chopped

Antonia Lofaso

This chef, TV personality, restaurateur, cookbook author, and mom dishes out food that speaks to her soul. She believes food is a great unifier and has spent a lot of time honing those skills since graduating from the French Culinary Institute. Antonia has previously appeared on Top Chef, Chopped and Restaurant Startup.

Brian Malarkey

The Beachside Brawl host and celebrity chef is back to prove his culinary prowess in season five. In addition to his recurring Food Network gigs, Malarkey has created several successful restaurants and is a fan favourite Top Chef finalist.

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Brooke Williamson

The Top Chef winner is also the first-season winner of Tournament of Champions, which makes her one to beat in this competition. In addition to TV appearances on shows like Bobby’s Triple Threat, Williamson has owned several Los Angeles restaurants.

Related: Brooke Williamson’s Ultimate Guide to West Coast Seafood, Plus a Recipe

Carlos Anthony

Another Food Network staple, Anthony has appeared on many shows including Chopped. He was born and raised in Tucson but learned to cook in California, notably under the tutelage of Brian Malarkey, a fellow Season 5 Tournament of Champions competitor.

Casey Thompson

This Top Chef finalist is also a fan favourite thanks to her love of life and food. The Texas native has travelled the world to hone her skills and flavours. Now, bringing those talents and her memorable personality to the Tournament of Champions.

Crista Luedtke

Crista is no stranger to this tournament, which makes her one to watch when the cameras click on. In addition to owning several restaurants, Crista has also appeared on Guy’s Grocery Games and in 2015 was named the first-ever Triple G grand champion.

Jet Tila

This celebrity chef is also an author, restaurateur, and developer who has shared his recipes on lifestyle shows across North America. A former Tournament of Champions competitor, he has also appeared on series like Iron Chef America and Chopped. Jet also hosts his own series, Ready Jet Cook.

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Joe Sasto

The American chef is known for his moustache, which is why he also goes by the nickname “Moustache Joe”. In addition to teaching cooking classes he has appeared as a competitor across several competition series including Top Chef and, of course, Tournament of Champions.

Lee Anne Wong

One of the original Top Chef contestants, Lee Anne recently made 2023 headlines for losing her restaurant in the Maui fires. She then volunteered to cook meals for shelters. This year, she’s looking to come back strong in the Tournament after making it to the second round last season.

Mei Lin

The 2023 Tournament of Champions winner is back to defend the title. Previously, the Top Chef champ has also worked as a personal chef to Oprah Winfrey and opened her own restaurants, delivering Asian-Californian cuisine in a delicious new way.

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Michael Voltaggio

Another notable Top Chef alum and winner, Michael has appeared on the first three seasons of Tournament of Champions. The chef has been cooking since he was 15 years old, has been a James Beard finalist, and has a signature serious but fun style that diners look forward to on his plates.

Related: Michael Voltaggio’s Kale Noodles with Chorizo Breadcrumbs

Shota Nakajima

Last season was the first time Shota entered the Tournament of Champions kitchen, and he made it all the way to the quarterfinals before Mei Lin bested him. Elsewhere, the Japanese-American chef is also a Top Chef finalist, a three-time James Beard finalist, and a restaurant owner.

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Shirley Chung

This chef was born and raised in Beijing, China, and trained is in classic French and Italian cuisines. In addition to being a restauranteur, Shirley has competed on Top Chef and the past two seasons of Tournament of Champions.

East Coast Chefs

Amanda Freitag

Amanda is a renowned Food Network personality thanks to her gig as a judge on Chopped and frequent appearances on other series. She’s also a past competitor on Tournament of Champions and a cookbook author.

Britt Rescigno

Britt was a newcomer to Tournament of Champions last season, where she placed in the top four. Now, she’s back for a chance at redemption. The New Jersey chef says she’s always trying to “achieve that Ratatouille moment” and is all about eating sexy food.

Dale Talde

The Chicago native has been cooking since he was a boy in the kitchen with his mom. These days, Dale is an author, a Top Chef competitor and a restaurateur. This is his first time competing in Tournament of Champions.

Eric Adjepong

A two-time Tournament of Champions competitor and Top Chef finalist, Adjepong is no stranger to the Food Network and has appeared on several shows. The first-generation Ghanaian-American chef is known for injecting his plates with flavours and influences from West African cultures.

Jonathon Sawyer

This Pennsylvania Institute of Culinary Arts grad inspires new and seasoned cooks alike with his cookbooks and TV stings. Sawyer is a James Beard Award Winner and has worked with many culinary greats (he was once Michael Symon’s executive chef). He last appeared on Tournament of Champions season four and is back this year for redemption.

Jose Garces

The Ecuadorian-American chef is an Iron Chef America winner, restaurant owner and James Beard Award winner. He loves exploring different genres of cooking, from Spanish tapas to Japanese street food. He first appeared in season four of Tournament of Champions and made it to the quarterfinals before losing to Britt Rescigno.

Karen Akunowicz

This chef and owner is also a James Beard Award winner and a Top Chef competitor who has made it to the Tournament of Champions quarterfinals twice. Will the third time be the charm for this restaurant owner?

Kelsey Barnard Clark

Kelsey has competed in the past two seasons of this show and is ready to bring her Southern charm and hospitality back for another round. This chef is also an author and has trained in some of the best Michelin kitchens around.

Related: These Restaurants Were Just Added to Toronto’s Michelin Guide

Maneet Chauhan

Maneet has proven herself as one of the toughest Tournament of Champions contestants in past seasons of the show. The celebrity Indian-American chef and personality is also the executive chef of many restaurants across America, and is, of course, a judge on Chopped.

Marc Murphy

Another two-time Tournament of Champions contestant, Marc is also a Chopped judge, executive chef and restaurateur. He grew up around the world, and that reflects on his plates, although his food is based on French and Italian cuisine.

Stephanie Izard

Stephanie is the first woman to win Top Chef, a win that she’s parlayed into restaurateur, entrepreneur and TV personality. She first appeared in the fourth season of Tournament of Champions and lost in the second round to Maneet Chauhan. Now, she’s back and ready for a second chance.

Tiffani Faison

Tournament of Champions’ third-season winner is back for a shot at a second title. The Boston-based chef has also appeared on Chopped and is a four-time James Beard Award finalist. Tiffani has worked with some culinary greats, including Daniel Boulud, Alain Ducasse and Todd English and was a runner-up on the initial season of Top Chef.

Tobias Dorzon

Another seasoned Tournament of Champions competitor who has made it to the quarterfinals, Tobias is back for another shot at that belt. The American chef and former pro football player serves up dishes infused with his West African heritage and has cooked those plates for renowned athletes and entertainers.