She’s a Boston-based chef de cuisine who made a big splash on the hit Bravo reality competition show Top Chef back in 2012. Her journey was anything but easy, but she showed incredible determination by fighting her way back into the game through Last Chance Kitchen. And you know what? She ended up winning it all—taking home the title of Top Chef and making history as only the second woman to do so. It’s honestly such an inspiring story. Before all the fame and recognition, she actually started out as a model during her high school years. But her passion for food eventually took center stage. She went on to earn her Associate’s degree in culinary arts from Le Cordon Bleu in Chicago, which really laid the foundation for her success. Born in Seoul, she was adopted at just four months old by a wonderful family in Michigan, where she grew up and began shaping the remarkable career that would eventually bring her national acclaim.
She took on the role of chef de cuisine at Stir in Boston back in 2012, and she held that position for a solid two years before stepping down in March of 2014. She really made her mark during her time there, bringing a unique flair to the kitchen. Her leadership at Stir helped shape the restaurant’s culinary direction until she moved on in 2014.