Charbel Hayek
Lebanese chef who won Top Chef Arabic and opened restaurants in LA and beyond.
Last updated
Charbel Hayek is a Lebanese chef based in Los Angeles, known for blending Lebanese, Levantine, and Eastern Mediterranean flavors with a California twist. He first gained wide recognition by winning Season 5 of the Arabic version of Top Chef in 2021 at age 24, then competed on Top Chef: World All-Stars as the youngest and least experienced chef in the field. His cooking draws from his upbringing in Beirut, where he learned from his mother, and from professional training in Paris. Today, he runs multiple restaurants across California and Connecticut, including Ladyhawk, Laya, and BarVera.
Did You Know?
- He worked under Chef Josiah Citrin at the two-Michelin-starred Mélisse in Los Angeles for nearly three years.
- On Top Chef: World All-Stars, he was the youngest and least experienced contestant but won the first Elimination Challenge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was Charbel Hayek born?
Charbel Hayek was born in Beirut, Lebanon.
Where did Charbel Hayek study?
Charbel Hayek studied at French School of Excellence.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Charbel Hayek (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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