Pinay chef Rhona Magbitang wins 'Top Chef: Carolinas'

A Filipina culinary talent has been hailed Top Chef! 

Rhoda Magbitang, who represented Hawaii, has been named the winner of Season 23 of Top Chef: Carolinas on the show's season finale on Monday, June 8.

According to a June 9 article by Food & Wine, Magbitang was born and raised in the Philippines before relocating to California at age 17, originally, for a teaching career.

While teaching kids how to make snacks, she discovered a passion for cooking, leading to her enrollment at Le Cordon Bleu and employment at some acclaimed Los Angeles restaurants.

In 2024, Magbitang became executive chef of CanoeHouse in Hawaii. The following year, a casting agent scouted her to join the reality cooking competition.

The Filipina was a tough contender during the season, winning the first two elimination challenges before being sent to the Last Chance Kitchen for her monkfish dish, eventually climbing her way back in the contest in four consecutive wins.

As per Food & Wine, Filipino cuisine was Magbitang's strongest suit, despite not cooking it professionally before. 

"What’s amazing about Top Chef is that it conjures up feelings, emotions, and food memories that you didn’t even know you had,” she shared. "In the finale, when they asked us to dedicate each dish to someplace or someone that has had an impact on your life and career, it only made sense to go all in on Filipino.”

In the finale, she made a tasting menu inspired by Filipino heritage, which included roasted sweet potato with miso butter and uni, abalone lugaw, tortang talong, and kaldereta.

"I didn't envy the decision that Tom, Gail, and Kristen had to make, but in the end, they chose wisely. Rhoda won because of her consistency, storytelling, and technique," Food and Wine editor and Top Chef judge Hunter Lewis told the magazine.

Magbitang is the first Top Chef champion from Hawaii. Winning the competition leads to unique opportunities in the culinary world, including TV appearances and restaurant deals.