'Until The Next One': MD Chef Wins Food Network Contest

FREDERICK, MD — Decorated chef and restaurateur Bryan Voltaggio on Wednesday was named the winner of the Food Network's latest "Tournament of Champions" edition.

Voltaggio, a Frederick County native who co-owns two restaurants in Maryland with his brother Michael, took home not only a champion's belt but also $150,000 in winnings.

The bracket-style competition saw Voltaggio pitted against 31 other accomplished chefs. In the finale, he faced off against chef Kevin Lee, a James Beard semifinalist who started the Korean fried chicken restaurant Birdies in Oklahoma.

In the end, it was Voltaggio's breakfast and dinner creations that led him victory.

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The breakfast dish was composed of king crab, grits with diced water chestnuts, crab fat caramel, and whipped maple syrup with sorghum.

Voltaggio clinched his one-point margin win with a dinner plate of masago arare tempura crab leg with water chestnut cream sauce.

"From the first round to the final plate, this wasn’t just a competition, it was a reminder of why I love this industry so much. The pressure, the creativity, the chaos… and most importantly, the people," Voltaggio said in an Instagram post. "Every battle pushed me to dig deeper, cook smarter, and stay present."

"Until the next one," he said.

Voltaggio has competed in multiple competitions, having won the inaugural "Tournament of Champions: All-Star Christmas" with his brother in 2025.

The brothers own the Wye Oak Tavern in Frederick, at 211 East Church St. and the Voltaggio Brothers Steak House at the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill.