\n(Courtesy Food Network) <\/figcaption>
\n Courtesy Food Network <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n \n Courtesy Food Network <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n \n Courtesy Food Network <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n \n Courtesy Food Network <\/p>\n<\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n A celebrity chef and restaurateur from Maryland has become the first man to win Food Network\u2019s \u201cTournament of Champions.\u201d<\/p>\n The show\u2019s seventh season saw 32 of the world\u2019s best chefs battle it out bracket-style, and Bryan Voltaggio<\/a> bested the rest.<\/p>\n In the final challenge that aired April 19, he competed against another nationally-known chef, Kevin Lee<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been runner-up so many times, so honestly I just thought that was going to be the outcome,\u201d Voltaggio told WTOP with a laugh.<\/p>\n Voltaggio beat Lee by just one point to win the Tournament of Champions title, a wrestling-style belt and a $150,000 prize.<\/p>\n \u201cIt felt amazing. I\u2019ve been chasing a win,\u201d Voltaggio said. \u201cThe finale aired on my 50th birthday, by the way.\u201d<\/p>\n Voltaggio and his brother Michael grew up in Frederick, Maryland, launched several restaurants and later gained nationwide fame.<\/p>\n For years, they\u2019ve been competing together and separately on various TV cooking shows.<\/p>\n \u201cFor me to get \u2014 finally \u2014 my first individual win has been nothing but incredible,\u201d Voltaggio said.<\/p>\n One of the dishes he created that sealed the deal was a breakfast dish made of grits, water chestnuts and crab.<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t Maryland blue crab, but live, Alaskan king crab that he had to grab out of a tank.<\/p>\n Voltaggio said he\u2019s been extremely busy balancing time as a chef and business owner with spending time with family and friends, but during what might appear to viewers as stressful competitions, he finds freedom.<\/p>\n \u201cTo be able to go into the kitchen and tune all of that out for a minute and just cook, it\u2019s actually relaxing,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s actually fun. It\u2019s something I really enjoy.\u201d<\/p>\n Voltaggio plans to give some of the prize money from his Tournament of Champions win to No Kid Hungry,<\/a>\u00a0a campaign aimed at ending childhood hunger that he\u2019s long supported.<\/p>\n He\u2019s also planning a long overdue vacation.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s time to take my wife and the kids somewhere fun,\u201d Voltaggio said.<\/p>\n But will we see more of him on TV?<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe I haven\u2019t hung up the apron yet. Maybe you\u2019ll see me compete again,\u201d Voltaggio teased.<\/p>\n Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a9 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/wtop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Brian-Voltaggio-3.jpg\")
\n(Courtesy Food Network) <\/figcaption>![\"brian](\"https:\/\/wtop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Brian-Voltaggio-2.jpg\")
\n(Courtesy Food Network) <\/figcaption>![\"Voltaggio](\"https:\/\/wtop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Brian-Voltaggio-4.jpg\")
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