February 14, 2015 –. The restaurant brokers interview one of Americas most loved Chefs - Chef Antonia Lofaso on their recent radio show. Known for the star power she brought to Top Chef Season 4, Chef Lofaso is now on CNBCs Restaurant Startup with Joe Bastianich and Tim Love where they are on a quest to discover, develop and invest in Americas next generation of culinary superstars. Chef Antonia is the culinary consultant to the two restaurant moguls who battle against each other to invest in concepts where they can make big profits. Join the Restaurant Brokers as we interview Chef Antonia Lofaso.
Chef Antonia Lofaso is a Chef, Restaurant Owner, TV personality and mother known for her contribution to the food industry. The restaurant brokers asked her about getting to this stage of success in her career and she recalled her early days. According to the successful chef, it all started with a lot of “Minimum Wage. Head Down" and the ever present, "Yes, Chef" to the person in charge of the kitchen. She freely admits the industry is challenging, calling it the “hardest and most passionately rewarding" industry out there. As a young chef on Season 4, she describes her Top Chef experience as one that left her "Scared out of my boots, in a fetal position." Scared out of her boots no longer, this feisty, friendly and approachable Chef is now starring in another hit show along with icons of the industry, Joe Bastianich and Tim Love. She describes life in front of the camera and her new show “Restaurant Startup.”
Join the restaurant brokers and Chef Antonia as they discuss the secrets behind running a great restaurant. Tune into the entire restaurant radio show live on Atlanta radio station WGKA 920 The Answer on Saturday at noon or the rebroadcast Sunday at 1 PM on Biz 1190.
This Week’s Guest:
Chef Antonia– Restaurant Startup
Best known for her role on Top Chef (season 4), Antonia Lofaso is one of America’s most loved chefs and shows off her culinary skills with her feisty Italian personality on Top Chef: All Stars. Most recently Lofaso has gone from television personality to business owner and is currently executive chef and owner of Black Market in Studio City, California. Fans of her restaurant on the west side can now experience her creations closer to home as she currently opened Scopa; Italian Roots in Venice, California.
With a lifelong passion for cooking, Lofaso chased her dreams and has managed to balance her busy career with being a single parent. She shares her secrets and tips in her book “The Busy Mom’s Cookbook” re-released in paperback this fall (2013). Lofaso attended the prestigious French Culinary Institute, and upon graduating was hired at Beverly Hills’ best known restaurant, Wolfgang Puck’s Spago. Under the mentorship of Executive Chef Lee Hefter, Lofaso refined her skills and technique, and spent six years working at the famed LA hotspot.
After mastering the cuisine at Spago, Lofaso made the difficult decision to leave and pursue a new adventure. Within weeks, she was hired by SBE to run the kitchen at their new upscale L.A. supper club, Foxtail. Upon starting her new role at Foxtail, Lofaso’s career encountered a monumental boom when Bravo came calling and recruited her for season 4 of its highly acclaimed cooking competition show Top Chef. In addition to her restaurant and television experience, Lofaso can also include private chef to some of Hollywood’s biggest stars in her repertoire. She currently resides in Los Angeles with her daughter Xea.