The culinary world ablazed once again as the Ciao House Season 2 released on May 19, 2024, and there is a lot to know about this culinary competition show. Last year, the show’s first season included 10 chefs lived under one roof competing for the coveted title. This year, there were 12 chefs in Ciao House Season 2. You can watch Ciao House Season 2 on Food Network.
Let’s meet all the chefs of Ciao House Season 2. Keep reading this article to find everything you need about this year’s contestants.
1- Austin Cobb (Playa Grande, Costa Rica)
Austin Cobb is from Palos Verdes, California, and has a passion for surfing. However, he is also a skilled chef, having worked in Italy’s top-notch restaurants. He currently lives in Costa Rica and joined the Ciao House season 2 cast with a mission to boost his cooking career. Austin is known for his unique culinary approach, which is an amalgamation of light, fresh, clean flavors and the finest ingredients.
Advertisement 2- Devan Cunningham (Phoenix)
The seed for Devan Cunningham‘s passion for cooking was planted during his childhood when he used to cook with his mother. Now, he owns a restaurant with his mother, where they are known for Southern flavors combined with a modern twist. Devan developed a passion for Italian cuisine while working in a scratch Italian kitchen. He brought a very competitive and fierce personality to this culinary competition.
3- Zev Bennett (Miami)
Zev Bennet was raised in a Kosher household, where he grew up reading cookbooks and magazines. Today he is known as a culinary rebel and the most honest chef in the kitchen. For Zev, cooking represents creativity and freedom, which he will embrace in Italy now. As Ciao House season 2 has already released, tune in to watch what rebellious cuisines Zev showed.
4- Hanna Haar (Montauk, New York)
Hanna Haar‘s roots are Irish and Scandinavian, but she loves Italian food. She grew up in New York’s Long Island where she was introduced to Italian food. She started an internship at an Italian restaurant and then worked there, starting her culinary arts journey. Hanna has traveled to over 20 countries but has never been to Italy. This show was her first visit to Italy, where she had an experience of a lifetime with the other chefs of Ciao House Season 2.
5- Maria Bregatta (Burlington, Vermont)
Maria Bregatta‘s mother is Sicilian, and she learned classic Italian dishes from her. Her father, a Dominican chef, imparted a love of Latin food to her. She brings a beautiful combination of both cuisines to the show by adding fresher and brighter flavors. Maria is a self-made chef she took new adventures and challenges in Italy.
6- Stikxz Williams (Queens, New York)
Stikxz Williams is from a Jamaican family, and her life was centered around food. Her love for Italian food began during a visit to her friend’s dinner. Stikxz is known for combining Caribbean and Italian flavors in her dishes and global cuisine. Her cooking style is bright, big, and bold. Stikxz also joined the chefs of Ciao House Season 2 with a passion for experiencing the culture and cuisine of Italy.
7- Drew Keane (Chicago)
Drew Keane is a self-taught chef, and with his passion and hard work, he became an executive chef role when he was 23 years old. He worked in an Italian restaurant, where he loved Italian cuisine. He joined the chefs of Ciao House Season 2 and immersed himself in Italian cuisine.
8- Ivan Barros (Los Angeles)
Ivan Barros brings a lot of experience in culinary arts, especially Italian cuisine. He has a very cool and calm personality, and he is always ready to take on any challenge. Ivan loves Italian cuisine because it promotes community and simplicity. He was keen to learnt more about Italian cuisine and culture, therefore he joined eleven other chefs of Ciao House Season 2.
9- Jan Parker (Tacoma, Washington)
Jan Parker is not the first in her family to embark on a passion for culinary. Culinary talent runs in Jan’s family, as her father is from Pampanga, a region known for its food, and his mother is from Manila. She grew up with Filipino-influenced dishes and also experienced Italy’s cuisine. Jan Parker bought a unique combination of Filipino and Italian flavors to the show.
10- Phuoc Vo (Tampa)
Phuoc Vo comes from a Vietnamese family. He studied pharmacy for a while but then decided to pursue his passion for cooking. Phuoc then attended a culinary school refining his cooking skills. He believes there are similarities between Vietnamese and Italian food and bought this new twist to the talented team of chefs of Ciao House Season 2. Being a part of this culinary competition fulfilled his dream of going to Italy.
11- Shannon Odom Chef (Hico, Texas)
Shannon Odom chef, always dreamed of visiting Italy and making meatballs with her Italian grandmother. Now, she owns a restaurant that reflects her Southern background and Italian heritage. Her menu includes many authentic scratch-made dishes, a testament to Shannon’s talents. She went to join the chefs of Ciao House Season 2 to rediscover her Italian heritage and bring back those flavors to Texas.
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12- Tiana Gee (Los Angeles)
Tiana Gee is another chef of the Ciao House Season 2 cast. She is a Filipina and Black Los Angeles native. Tiana has a unique culinary approach at her restaurant, a fusion of her roots. She is a classically trained chef famous for her bold flavors and personality. She is also a renowned content creator passionate about capturing her traveling and cooking gigs. While she tried her hands on many different culinary backgrounds, she came to learn all about Italian cuisine.
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What Happened to Ivan on Ciao House Season 2?
Miami-born Chef Ivan Barros emerged as the winner of Ciao House Season 2. Throughout weeks of intense competition, he consistently showcased his exceptional culinary skills. His talent and determination ultimately led him to claim the top spot on the popular Food Network show. After his victory, Chef Ivan returned to Miami to pursue new opportunities. He is now the executive chef at Amara at Paraiso, where he continues to create amazing dishes.
Who are the Final Two Chefs on Ciao House?
In the season finale, the two remaining chefs faced an unexpected twist as surprise guests arrived at the villa. This added a thrilling layer to the competition’s final moments. As the pressure mounted, both chefs were eager to impress the judges with their skills. Alex Guarnaschelli and Gabe Bertaccini evaluated their final dishes carefully. Ultimately, the judges chose one chef as the winner of Ciao House.
What City is Ciao House Season 2 filmed in?
Season 2 of Ciao House was filmed in the beautiful region of Puglia, Italy. Known for its stunning landscapes and rich culinary heritage, Puglia provided a scenic backdrop. This location added a unique charm to the show, making it stand out from other cooking competitions. Viewers were treated to breathtaking views of Italian countryside and historic architecture. Filming in Puglia enriched the cultural experience for contestants and audiences alike.
FAQ
Ivan Barros, a Miami native, won by presenting a dish that perfectly balanced classic Italian flavors with modern techniques.
Hannah Haar, a chef from Montauk, is a contestant on Season 2; she’s worked at Amber Waves and The Montauk Beach House.
Omar Ashley left the competition due to back pain, as noted in his IMDb profile.
Wrap Up
This year’s Ciao House was bigger than the last one. With the addition of two more chefs, a thrilling Ciao House season 2 trailer, a new location in Italy, and brand new culinary challenges sat to become one of the highly celebrated culinary competitions. As the release date of Ciao House Season 2 has already been announced, fans can now Watch ‘Ciao House Season 2, where culinary experts worldwide finally show their magic in an Italian kitchen.