Top Chef’s First Female Winner, Stephanie Izard
June 12th, 2008
A woman won Top Chef Wednesday night for the first time in the Bravo show’s four-season history.
Chicagoan Stephanie Izard, 31, beat out 15 contestants. She battled against finalists Lisa Fernandes of New York and Richard Blais of Atlanta in the finale.
“I just made the best meal that night,” Izard told The Associated Press. “It came down to who brought their A-game.”
Izard, who called the show “one of the hardest things I’ve done,” will pocket $100,000.
The chef says her future plans include opening a new restaurant in Chicago.
On Wednesday, the network announced it was developing Top Chef Junior, which will pit teenagers against each other.
Congrats! 
