Top Chef season 19 winner and Top Chef: World All Stars winner Buddha Lo returned to the show for the ninth episode of season 22, “Destination Canada.” He was a guest judge for the Elimination Challenge, which had a fun Mission: Impossible theme.
While there, he showed off a slim and trim figure and also gave some helpful critiques to the contestants.
Chef Massimo Piedimonte made Pacific trout en croute with sauce matelote (fish stew), fondue de tomatoes Louis XV and saffron emulsion, which Lo gave massive props to for being able to cook so much in so little time.
“I thought it was fantastic. I mean, two hours to make pastry, bake it, fill it, I mean, kudos to him,” said Lo.
For Chef Cesar Murillo’s Arctic char tartare with turmeric custard, fish tuile and romaine lettuce jam, Lo said, “The fish was handled really nicely, presentation was great, but it needed some acidity to cut through that sweetness.”
At the judges’ table, he added of Cesar’s dish, “I thought the turmeric custard was just a little bit too overpowering…this is hard.”
He added, “I don’t see where it was going flavor-wise, and I don’t see where it was going stunt-wise as well.”
Since his time on Top Chef, Lo has been busy not only working as the chef and co-owner of his fine-dining Huso restaurant in Tribeca, Manhattan, New York, but he has also become a father of two about a year and a half ago.
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On October 20, 2023, Lo and his wife Rebekah Pedler welcomed twin daughters, Tatiana and Alina. At the time, the couple shared on Instagram that there were “a few extra health complications with Mum and Tatiana, but now we have all been discharged and are at home, soaking up all the deliciousness.” They added, “WE FOUND THE TWO MISSING MAJONG PIECES! Now let the fun begin! #sendlasagne.”
Rebekah also revealed in a Father’s Day video post in 2024 that they call the girls “Tati” and “Lina.”
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