Melissa King (born October 11, 1983) is an American chef and television personality, best known for her appearances on the reality competition series Top Chef. She first appeared on the show’s twelfth season, Top Chef: Boston, placing fourth; she then returned for the seventeenth season, Top Chef: All-Stars L.A., which she won. She specializes in modern Californian cuisine with Asian flavors.
King grew up in Los Angeles, California and is the younger of two sisters. Both her parents immigrated from Hong Kong to Los Angeles in the late 1960s. She attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, before transferring to the University of California, Irvine, graduating with a B.A. in cognitive science. She then attended The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, earning an A.A. in culinary arts. She is also a certified level 1 Sommelier from The Court of Master Sommeliers.
King took her first kitchen job when she was 17 years old as a pastry assistant at the Getty Museum. She subsequently trained under several Michelin-star and James Beard-recognized chefs including Dominique Crenn and Ron Siegel over the next 10 years. She has worked at several Michelin starred Bay Area restaurants such as Campton Place, Luce, and The Dining Room (Ritz-Carlton San Francisco). She was a chef ambassador for Whole Foods Market. She was selected as one of the “Best Female Chefs in San Francisco.”
King earned national recognition after placing fourth as a finalist on Season 12 of Bravo‘s television series, Top Chef. King was invited back for Season 17 of Top Chef, the show’s second all-stars season, where she was announced the winner and received the US$250,000 grand prize. She was subsequently voted as the “fan favorite” of Season 17, earning her another US$10,000, which she donated to several non-profit organizations, including the Black Visions Collective, Asian Americans for Equality, Asian Youth Center, and The Trevor Project. She has the most single-season individual challenge wins of any competitor in the history of Top Chef.
“Wikiwand – Melissa King (Chef).” Wikiwand, http://www.wikiwand.com/en/Melissa_King_(chef).
At the 2022 Met Gala
Melissa King, accessory detail, attends The 2022 Met Gala Celebrating…
Melissa King, accessory detail, attends The 2022 Met Gala Celebrating “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 02, 2022 in New York City. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images
“These nail guards were inspired by the last empress of China, Empress Dowager Cixi who historically was written to be power hungry or a ‘dragon lady,’ but I feel might have been more of a feminist in patriarchal governed China (she met with Western women during the Guilded Ages and banned foot binding!). As a chef, I work with my hands daily so highlighting them in this way felt like a fun play on things,” King explained.
Melissa KIng
Meet Chef Melissa King
Top Chef All Stars Season 17 Winner Chef Melissa King Food – Chef Melissa King
Top Chef All-Stars Season 17 winner and Season 18 judge, Chef Melissa King offering online virtual cooking classes, celebrity chef recipes, sauces, hats, patreon, cameo virtual shoutouts. Follow Chef Melissa King @chefmelissaking
Chef Melissa King’s show Tasting Wild
Tasting Wild | Official Trailer | National Geographic
Journey into nature with world-renowned chef Melissa King to seek inspiration and discover the flavors of the wild places all around us in Tasting Wild, a new series dropping October 25. Paid Content for Mazda. ➡ Subscribe: http://bit.ly/NatGeoSubscribe #NationalGeographic #TastingWild About National Geographic: National Geographic is the world’s premium destination for science, exploration, and adventure.
Melissa King on Sesame St, introducing the first Asian American Muppet, Ji-Young
Thanksgiving on Sesame Street: How a ‘Top Chef’ judge helps her childhood show make history
On Thanksgiving Day, “See Us Coming Together: A Sesame Street Special” will introduce the show’s first Asian American Muppet, Ji-Young. In announcing the 7-year-old Korean character, Sesame Workshop said this episode celebrates “the rich diversity of Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities as part of the organization’s ongoing racial justice initiative.”
Melissa King with Ellen DeGeneres
Chef Melissa King Serves Up Spicy Mango Margaritas with Ellen
“Top Chef: All-Stars L.A.” winner Melissa King made spicy mango margaritas and delicious vegan ramen with Ellen! You can make more of her dishes by signing up for one of Melissa’s cooking classes on chefmelissaking.com. #MelissaKing #TheEllenShow #Ellen