Stefan Richter
Encyclopedia
Stefan Richter is a Finnish
-American
chef residing in Santa Monica, California
. He was a runner-up in the fifth season
of Top Chef
, Bravo's cooking competition show.
, where he began culinary training in his teens. He worked his way through various European kitchens, learning new techniques and collecting many awards along the way. In 1993 he obtained a Masters Degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management and Culinary Art from Fachhochschule Würzburg-Schweinfurt. In 1998, he was part of the creative team for the opening of the Bellagio Hotel, Resort & Spa in Las Vegas
along with chefs Grant McPherson, Sotta Kuhn, Jacques Torres, Jean Philip Maury and Marc Poidevin.
Richter held a number of executive chef positions, including at Enoteca Drago in 2004, before opening his own business, Stefan's European Catering, in Santa Monica. Though he resides in California, he spends the summer months in Suonenjoki
, Finland
, where he enjoys spending time hunting and fishing.
, on the fifth season of Top Chef, and lost to Hosea Rosenberg
. Overall, Richter had the strongest track record prior to the finale, winning four elimination challenges and four quickfires. Before viewing the finale of the show, Eric Ripert
, who had been a guest judge on episode 11, said he considered Richter the strongest candidate to win the competition.
Richter has also appeared as a guest judge in the Finnish version of Top Chef.
In March 2011, Richter opened a restaurant called Stefan's Steakhouse in Tampere.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
-American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
chef residing in Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
. He was a runner-up in the fifth season
Top Chef (season 5)
Top Chef: New York is the fifth season of American reality television series Top Chef and was filmed first in New York City, New York, and concluded in New Orleans, Louisiana...
of Top Chef
Top Chef
Top Chef is an American reality competition show that airs on the cable television network Bravo, in which chefs compete against each other in culinary challenges. They are judged by a panel of professional chefs and other notables from the food and wine industry with one or more contestants...
, Bravo's cooking competition show.
Background
Richter's hometown is Tampere, Finland, and he spent a majority of his childhood in GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, where he began culinary training in his teens. He worked his way through various European kitchens, learning new techniques and collecting many awards along the way. In 1993 he obtained a Masters Degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management and Culinary Art from Fachhochschule Würzburg-Schweinfurt. In 1998, he was part of the creative team for the opening of the Bellagio Hotel, Resort & Spa in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
along with chefs Grant McPherson, Sotta Kuhn, Jacques Torres, Jean Philip Maury and Marc Poidevin.
Richter held a number of executive chef positions, including at Enoteca Drago in 2004, before opening his own business, Stefan's European Catering, in Santa Monica. Though he resides in California, he spends the summer months in Suonenjoki
Suonenjoki
Suonenjoki is a town and municipality of Finland.Suonenjoki is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Northern Savonia region. The town has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water. The population density is....
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, where he enjoys spending time hunting and fishing.
Top Chef
Richter was a runner-up, along with Carla HallCarla Hall
Carla Hall is an American chef residing in Washington, D.C. She was a finalist in the fifth and eighth seasons of Top Chef, Bravo's cooking competition show. On April 14, 2011, it was announced that Hall will be one of 5 cohosts on The Chew, a one-hour live show centered on food from all angles...
, on the fifth season of Top Chef, and lost to Hosea Rosenberg
Hosea Rosenberg
Hosea Rosenberg is an American chef residing in Boulder, Colorado. He was the winner of the fifth season of Top Chef, Bravo's cooking competition show....
. Overall, Richter had the strongest track record prior to the finale, winning four elimination challenges and four quickfires. Before viewing the finale of the show, Eric Ripert
Eric Ripert
Eric Ripert is a chef, author and television personality specializing in modern French cuisine and renowned for his work with seafood. His flagship restaurant, Le Bernardin, located in New York City, is routinely ranked among the best restaurants in the world by Restaurant magazine's and S...
, who had been a guest judge on episode 11, said he considered Richter the strongest candidate to win the competition.
Richter has also appeared as a guest judge in the Finnish version of Top Chef.
Restaurants
Richter opened his restaurant, Stefan's at L.A. Farm located at 3000 Olympic Blvd. in Santa Monica in August 2009 and Stefan's on Montana in February 2010.In March 2011, Richter opened a restaurant called Stefan's Steakhouse in Tampere.