Top Chef Season 18 Headshot Brooke Williamson

Brooke Williamson

Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Brooke Williamson has carved out an impressive résumé of leading roles and achievements, including being the youngest female chef to ever cook at the James Beard House, winning Top Chef Season 14 in Charleston, and most recently, being crowned the first winner of Tournament of Champions in spring 2020.  Brooke was the runner up on Top Chef season 10 in Seattle and also competed on Top Chef Duels.

Brooke began her career as a teacher’s assistant at the Epicurean Institute of Los Angeles, followed by her first kitchen position as a pastry assistant at Fenix at the Argyle Hotel, under the tutelage of Michelin-starred Chef Ken Frank. Next, she worked her way up to sous chef at Chef Michael McCarty’s Michael’s of Santa Monica. She later staged at the renowned Daniel restaurant by Daniel Boulud in New York City. Two years later, Williamson was appointed her first executive chef position at the notable Los Angeles restaurant Boxer. Then, she opened the Brentwood eatery Zax as Executive Chef, where she began to develop her signature California-inspired cuisine and met her husband and business partner, Nick Roberts.

In 2014, the couple debuted a unique four-in-one-concept, Playa Provisions, featuring a grab-and-go marketplace, King Beach; an artisanal ice cream shop, Small Batch; a seafood dining spot, Dockside; and an intimate whiskey bar, Grain.

Brooke works alongside Roberts creating new menus and running the front and back of house, takes her chef talents on the road to local and national food events and festivals, and regularly participates in philanthropic efforts with No Kid Hungry.