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Catching up with 'Top Chef' contestants - Los Angeles Times
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Catching up with ‘Top Chef’ cheftestants

One of the great things about Bravo's reality cooking-competition showdown "Top Chef" is that, unlike a singing, dancing or sewing competition, it's usually pretty easy to see the contestant in his or her natural element several nights a week. Here's where some of the more memorable chef-testants ended up. Photo: "Top Chef" host Padma Lakshmi, left, with judges Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons after winning the Emmy for reality competition program at the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards.

One of the great things about Bravo’s reality cooking-competition showdown “Top Chef” is that, unlike a singing, dancing or sewing competition, it’s usually pretty easy to see the contestant in his or her natural element several nights a week. Here’s where some of the more memorable chef-testants ended up.

Photo: “Top Chef” host Padma Lakshmi, left, with judges Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons after winning the Emmy for reality competition program at the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards.  (Paul Buck / EPA)

Ilan Hall

Conniving or just brilliantly competitive? Season 2’s winner arguably mastered the reality TV art of pitting fellow cast mates against each other. He also has a restaurant in downtown Los Angeles called The Gorbals, named for his Scottish and Israeli parents’ neighborhood in Glasgow. When she reviewed it in January 2010, Times restaurant critic S. Irene Virbila called the “global immigrant cuisine” the “kind of food [Hall would] cook for friends in a garage band.”  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

Marcel Vigneron

Sure, the rapping Season 2 runner-up got into some trouble with a DUI arrest in 2008, but other than that he seems to be pretty scandal-free as far as the press is concerned. He was sous chef at the Bazaar in the SLS Hotel, known for its molecular gastronomy tapas and also once home to “Top Chef” Season 6 winner Michael Voltaggio.

In 2010, Vigneron helped reinvent the old Trader Vic’s space in Beverly Hills with more small plates of molecular gastronomy at bar210 and Plush at the Beverly Hilton. He also has his own show on the SyFy channel called “Marcel’s Quantum Kitchen.”  (Axel Koester / For The Times)

Stefan Richter

The Season 5 finalist can still be found enjoying the attention of the fairer sex as he cooks his way through the L.A. area. Can’t keep up with him? Check his Twitter account for updates.  (Christine Cotter / Los Angeles Times)

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Michael Voltaggio

Meanwhile, the younger Voltaggio -- who did end up taking home the coveted title -- left his gig at the Dining Room at the Langham hotel in Pasadena in 2010 and and plans to open his own restaurant in spring 2011. He also has plans to open a sandwich place and can be found on Twitter.  (Krista Simmons / For The Times)

Mike Isabella

Season 6’s other Michael -- the one who isn’t a Voltaggio brother -- came back for more and placed second in “Top Chef: All-Stars.” He’ll soon open Graffiato, an Italian-style restaurant in Washington, D.C.  (Mike Coppola / Getty Images)

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