Danny Garcia is bringin’ home the bacon while making history…
The Latino chef has been crowned the new winner of Season 21 of Bravo’s culinary competition series Top Chef, becoming the first Puerto Rican, Dominican and Muslim winner.
Garcia, Daniel Jacobs and Savannah Miller made it to the finals, hoping to win the grand prize of $250,000.
Season 21 took place in Wisconsin, with the two-part finale in the Caribbean.
Ultimately, it was Garcia who took the Season 21 crown. He also earned an additional $53,000 in prize money, the most of any chef in a season, which he won throughout the challenges.
“I’m honored to be the first Puerto Rican, Dominican and Muslim Top Chef,” Garcia said. “I take immense pride in the dishes I’ve presented during this competition as they embody my evolution as a chef.”
He continued, “I dedicate this win to my mentor, the late Chef Jamal James Kent, whose steadfast support, leadership, guidance, and friendship have been instrumental in shaping the chef I’ve become today.”
Michelle Wallace was named as Top Chef Fan Favorite of the season and won $10,000.
The Top Chef Season 21 finale took place aboard MS Eurodam, where Garcia, Miller, and Jacobs served the most important meal of their careers to judges Kristen Kish, Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons, along with guest judge Emeril Lagasse.
Garcia, Miller, and Jacobs had to impress a table of culinary luminaries, including Carrie Nahabedian, Bricia Lopez, Justin Pichetrungsi, and Top Chef Canada judge David Zilber.
Ultimately, Garcia’s four-course progressive seafood menu, which took the diners on a journey of his significant culinary memories, earned him the illustrious title of Top Chef.
Colicchio stated his dessert Piragua con Leche was “fantastic … and going to be a signature” dish.
