Top Chef Alumni Newsletter

Ilan Hall Wants to See L.A.’s Top Chef Competitor Taken Down

Photo: Hadley Tomicki

Top Chef: Season Two-winner Ilan Hall is playing favorites for the show’s new season. We hate to tell you, but he’d be happy watching L.A.’s local competitor pack his knives and split. After winning $15,000 this week and constantly glowering like he was going to beat the pulp out of somebody with his tatted right arm, we’re proud to back our local candidate, Michael Voltaggio. Hall has a friendly bias towards the other Voltaggio, Michael’s big bro Bryan, who the show has set up a pronounced sibling rivalry with. Answering Los Angeles Magazine when asked who he is rooting for, Hall, the new Downtown restaurateur let slip, “Brian Voltaggio [SIC]. He is my old boss and one of the greatest cooks I have ever met. I hope he takes down his brother.” GASP! Say it ain’t so, Ilan. Hall interned under Bryan at Charlie Palmer’s Aureole and is from New York, so we don’t expect him to be bursting with Cali pride quite yet. He just better not say he’s a San Francisco Giants fan so close to Dodger Stadium.

Ilan Hall: The Gorbals [L.A. Magazine’s Eat]

Ilan Hall Wants to See L.A.’s Top Chef Competitor Taken Down