STEFAN RICHTER- TOP CHEF

A native of Finland, Stefan Richter called Germany home for most of his childhood. He completed a three-year culinary apprenticeship in Germany, then moved to Switzerland to study at the rigorous Hotel and Culinary School. In 1993, he hearned his Certified Master Chef diploma from Fachhochschule Wurzburg-Schweinfurt in Germany. Stefan has cooked in some of the best restaurants in the country, including Celestina Dragos Kitchen, the Villagio Inn & Spa, Napa, the Bacara Resort & Spa in Santa Barbara, and the Bellagio in Las Vegas. "America has given me many opportunities. If I didnt leave, I would probably be chopping wood for someone else or something. But I came to America and have been cooking for 25 years. I love cooking, but I dont know how far I would have gone if I stayed in Germany or Finland....I love America Ive been here for 12 years and I would go back for money." After his stint on "Top Chef," Stefan opened his first restaurant, "Stefans at L.A. Farm," in Los Angeles in 2010, and opened "Stefans Steakhouse" in Tampere, (Finland) in 2011. A burger place is also in the works. Recently he competed on "Top Chef Seattle." http://www.stefansrestaurants.com/

Stefan Richter