Stephanie Cmar
Born1985 (age 36–37)
EducationJohnson & Wales University
Culinary career
Previous restaurant(s)
    • No.9 Park
    • B&G Oysters
    • Stir
    • Stacked Donuts (2014)
    • Party of Two
    • Fairsted Kitchen (2015-2016)
Television show(s)

Stephanie Cmar is an American private chef and was a competitor on three seasons of Top Chef. Cmar was a finalist in Top Chef: All-Stars L.A..

Early life and education

Cmar's first restaurant job was at age 15 at the Muffin Shop in Marblehead, Massachusetts. In 2007, she graduated Johnson & Wales University.[1]

Career

Cmar has worked at several restaurants including B&G Oysters, Stir, and at Barbara Lynch’s flagship restaurant, No.9 Park, as a sous-chef.[2][3][4] Cmar left No.9 Park in 2014 to operate the pop-up donut shop, Stacked Donuts.[5][6] Cmar and Justin Burke-Samson operated a catering company and pop-up called Party of Two. Party of Two toured the US in 2014.[7] In 2015, Cmar became the executive chef at Fairsted Kitchen in Boston.[8] June 2015 to February 2016, Cmar was the executive chef of Fairsted Kitchen in Boston. Cmar Left Fairsted to return to being a private chef.[9]

Cmar originally participated in the qualifying rounds on the first episode of season 10 of Top Chef alongside her close friend from culinary school Kristen Kish, who ultimately won the season. Cmar was not chosen to move on into the competition proper. Cmar was invited back to compete in Top Chef: New Orleans and placed seventh after a controversial elimination in which the worst-performing chef of the challenge could not be eliminated that round due to him having won immunity earlier in the episode.[10][11] Cmar was invited to return again for season 17, Top Chef: All-Stars L.A. and was often described as the underdog of that season.[12] Cmar made it to the finals in All-Stars L.A., but ultimately lost to Melissa King.[13]

In 2020, Cmar launched a mini online cooking show on her Instagram called, "My Shitty Little Kitchen", produced by Brian Pu Ruiz.[14][12][2] She served on the rotating panel of judges on Top Chef Amateurs in 2021.[15]

Personal life

Cmar has two brothers, Colton and Wyatt.[16] In 2018, Cmar's brother Colton died from a drug overdose. Cmar spoke openly about her brother's death in Top Chef: All-Stars L.A. and said the first course of her finale meal was inspired by him.[17][13] In December 2020, Cmar and her husband, David Cavilla, moved from Boston to Maine.[18]

References

  1. ^ "Stephanie Cmar". Bravo TV. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  2. ^ a b Cain, Jacqueline (18 June 2020). "Stephanie Cmar Goes From a "Shitty Little" Boston Kitchen to the "Top Chef All Stars" Finale". Boston Magazine. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  3. ^ Hughes, Christopher (18 October 2013). "Q&A: 'Top Chef' Stephanie Cmar talks donuts, guilty pleasures, and second chances". Boston.com. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  4. ^ Gaynes, Sara (October 30, 2013). "Secret recipe". Boston Herald. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  5. ^ Blumenthal, Rachel Leah (18 February 2014). "Stephanie Cmar's Stacked Donuts Is Popping Up". Eater Boston. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  6. ^ "Sweet Genius: Pastry pop-up shops cut down on costs for chefs". The Daily Free Press. 13 April 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  7. ^ Hughes, Christopher (25 July 2014). "Big Things Are Happening at Stephanie Cmar's Party of Two". Boston Magazine. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  8. ^ "Stephanie Cmar at Fairsted Kitchen - Boston Restaurant News and Events". Boston Chefs. 12 May 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  9. ^ Blumenthal, Rachel Leah (29 February 2016). "Chef Shuffles at Fairsted Kitchen and The Frogmore". Eater Boston. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  10. ^ O'Keeffe, Kevin (2 March 2017). "'Top Chef' seasons ranked, from cream of the crop to rotten apples". Mic. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  11. ^ Hanel, Marnie (28 March 2014). "A Woman's Place Is Running the Kitchen (Published 2014)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  12. ^ a b Mancini, Vince (24 June 2020). "Top Chef's Lovable Losers Bryan Voltaggio And Stephanie Cmar On This Season's Most Roastable Moments". UPROXX. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  13. ^ a b Wilson, Korsha (18 June 2020). "'Top Chef' All-Stars Los Angeles Season Finale Recap: Episode 14—'Finito'". Food & Wine. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  14. ^ Cannon, Kristine (29 April 2020). "An Exclusive Look Inside 'Top Chef' Star Stephanie Cmar's Fridge". SheKnows. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  15. ^ Turnquist, Kristi (2021-07-02). "'Top Chef Amateurs': How to watch the season premiere online, without cable". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2021-07-18.((cite web)): CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ Hughes, Christopher (24 February 2014). "A First Look at Stephanie Cmar's Stacked Donuts". Boston Magazine. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  17. ^ McGuinness, Devan (2020). "What You Should Know About 'Top Chef' Contestant Stephanie Cmar's Brother". Distractify. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  18. ^ McEvoy, Beth (2021-03-04). "Top Chef All-Star moves to Maine". News Center Maine. Retrieved 2021-05-03.((cite web)): CS1 maint: url-status (link)
Categories