Bravo is firing up the competition again with its latest season of “Top Chef,” which premieres next month. The D.C. area finds itself dominating the show with three “cheftestants” competing, proof the local culinary scene is on the rise.
The sixth season of the hit show will feature a little sibling rivalry with two brothers from Frederick, Md., Michael and Bryan Voltaggio. Though Michael headed for work in Los Angeles, Bryan remains in the area as the chef/owner of VOLT Restaurant, a three-star fine dining restaurant in his hometown. Bryan received his training at the Culinary Institute of America and was an apprentice to famous chef Charlie Palmer.
The third D.C.-area cheftestant, Michael Isabella, works as the executive chef at Jose Andres’ nationally renowned Greek-Mediterranean restaurant Zaytinya, in Chinatown. Isabella is self-taught and has worked his way down the East Coast, teaching himself along the way. The Voltaggio brothers and Isabella join the ranks of area “Top Chef” alums Spike Mendelsohn and Carla Hall.
Maybe this time a local will sear the competition and bring the title home to D.C.
