Meet the Champions | Top Chef Masters Photos

What you need to know: Regarded internationally as an influential culinary force, Chef Tony Mantuano is the chef/partner at Spiaggia, the only four-star Italian restaurant in Chicago. Awarded the 2005 James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef: Midwest, Mantuano worked in several Michelin-starred restaurants in Italy before opening Spiaggia in 1984 to critical acclaim, and has since gone on to win The Chicago Tribune’s highest culinary prize, The Good Eating Award, and named a Food & Wine Best New Chef in 1986.

Competing for: Feeding America

Winning dish: Black Pepper Shrimp and Scallops

What you need to know: Susan Feniger is well known to Angeleno’s as one half of the popular "Too Hot Tamales" along with her longtime business partner Mary Sue Milliken. Almost 30 years ago, the two chefs opened CITY restaurant, becoming an instant success story. Next came Border Grill in Santa Monica, California and Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, and then the Latin themed Ciudad in downtown Los Angeles and the Border Grill Truck. With the opening of Susan Feniger’s STREET in Hollywood in 2009, the celebrated chef launched her first solo venture. Feniger’s dream of creating a unique restaurant inspired by the authentic flavors of street food was fulfilled, creating a spontaneous love story enjoyed by foodies and the media alike.

Competing for: Scleroderma Research Foundation

Winning dish: Black Pepper Shrimp and Scallops

Learn how to make Susan's winning Shrimp and Scallops here!

What you need to know: Puerto Rican native Carmen Gonzalez has been a prominent figure in American dining for over 20 years. Upon opening the nationally recognized, Miami-based Carmen the Restaurant in 2003, it was hailed “One of the Best New Restaurants in America” by Esquire magazine.

Competing for: ASPCA

Winning Dish: Oyster & Hot Sausage Stew with Cilantro

Learn how to make Carmen's Oyster Stew here!

What you need to know: Award-winning chef and cookbook author Marcus Samuelsson is the youngest chef to ever receive two three-star ratings from The New York Times, the first of which was awarded to him after just three months as Executive Chef of Aquavit. His impressive list of accolades includes a 2003 James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef: New York City, having already won the foundation’s 1999 best Rising Star Chef honor. He has received consecutive four-star ratings in Forbes’ annual All-Star Eateries feature, named one of the 40 under 40 by Crain’s, and was hailed one of The Great Chefs of America by the Culinary Institute of America.

Competing for: The UNICEF Tap Project

Winning dish: BBQ Chicken with Mac & Cheese & Collard Greens

Get all of this season's recipes, including this one!

What you need to know: Working as a successful chef, restaurateur and author, Jonathan Waxman has graced such prestigious kitchens as Chez Panisse in Berkeley and Michael’s in Los Angeles. Waxman went on to open his own restaurant in New York City – Jams, as well as the famed Washington Park. Today, Waxman is the chef and owner of Barbuto in Manhattan's West Village. His first cookbook, A Great American Cook, was published in 2007.

Competing for: Citymeals On Wheels

Winning dish: Shepherds Pie with Lamb, Mashed Potatoes and Parmesan Cheese

Learn how to make Jonathan's winning Shepherd's Pie here!

What you need to know: From 1994 to 2005, Moonen earned 3 stars from The New York Times for his work at Oceana, Molyvos, and rm in New York City. Moonen was the executive chef at the Water Club and his passion and vocalization of sustainable seafood practices led him to publish Fish Without a Doubt in 2008. Sensitive to consumers’ home cooking needs, the cookbook is intended to serve as inspiration to chefs for their cooking choices. In February 2005, Chef Moonen opened his multi-level restaurant Rick Moonen’s RM Seafood at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.

Competing for: Three Square

Winning dish: Chicken Fried Sable Fish with Lemon Confit Tartar Sauce, Twice Fried Potatoes and Fennel Slaw

What you need to know: Hailed by Zagat as “a culinary genius,” Susur Lee has emerged from his humble beginnings as a 15-year-old apprentice in Hong Kong to become a worldwide leader in Asian fusion cuisine, blending traditional Chinese dishes with classical French techniques. In 1987, Lee opened the doors to his 12-table Lotus restaurant in Toronto, earning rave reviews from The New York Times, Art Culinaire, Gourmet, and Food & Wine magazine. Lotus ran successfully for a decade before Lee decamped for a "re-energizing" period to Singapore, where he served as head chef and consultant. Returning home to open Susur in 2000, Lee has since launched restaurants in Manhattan (Shang), Washington D.C. (Zentan), and a second restaurant, Lee, in Toronto.

Competing for: Andre Agassi Foundation for Education

Winning dish: Roasted Chicken and Farce Curry with Polenta and Grits, Tomato Jam and Chili Mint Chutney

What you need to know: Jody Adams is a James Beard award-winning chef with a national reputation for her imaginative use of New England ingredients in regional Italian cuisine. Her four-star Rialto restaurant in Cambridge has been named “One of the top 20 new restaurants in the country” by Esquire magazine and “One of the world’s best hotel restaurants” by Gourmet. Beginning her culinary career as a line cook at Seasons restaurant, she went on to open Hamersley’s Bistro as sous-chef and then served as executive chef at Michela’s in Cambridge, where Food & Wine listed her as “one of America’s ten best new chefs.” Soon thereafter, Adams opened Rialto in Harvard Square, collecting many honors as a result, including being inducted into the Nation’s Restaurant News Fine Dining Hall of Fame.

Competing for: Partners in Health

Winning dish: Braised Chicken Thighs with Mushrooms, Semolina Gnocchi and Herb Salad

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Episode 4: Rate the Plate