Bryan Voltaggio

Last updated
Bryan Voltaggio
Born1976 (age 48–49)
Frederick, Maryland, U.S.
Education Culinary Institute of America
SpouseJennifer Covell [1]
Culinary career
Cooking styleModern American
Current restaurants
    • Voltaggio Brothers Steakhouse, National Harbor, MD (2016),
    • Showroom, Frederick, MD (2020)
Previous restaurants
    • VOLT, Frederick, MD (2008–2020),
    • Aggio, Baltimore, MD (2014–2018),
    • Family Meal, Frederick, MD (2015–2016),
    • STRFSH, Santa Monica, CA (2017–2021),
    • Estuary, Washington, DC (2019–2022),
    • Thacher & Rye, Frederick, MD (2020–2024), [2]
Television shows

Bryan Voltaggio (born 1976) [3] is an American celebrity chef, restaurateur, and author. He is a Top Chef television series alum; and he was a semi-finalist for the James Beard award. [4] [5] His brother is celebrity chef Michael Voltaggio. [5] [6] [7] He resides in Frederick, Maryland and is known for Mid-Atlantic cuisine.

Contents

Early life and education

Bryan Voltaggio was the oldest of three children, born to Sharon and John Voltaggio. [8] At age 7, his parents divorced and the children initially lived with their mother, and later moved to their father's house. [8] Starting in childhood, brothers Bryan and Michael were very close. [8] He attended Governor Thomas Johnson High School. [1] He is married to Jennifer Covell, whom he met in high school; and together they have three children. [1]

His first job was as a busboy at a Holiday Inn in Frederick, Maryland. [8] He took a vocational culinary program at Frederick Community College while attending Governor Thomas Johnson High School and by age 15, he was given the role of cook. [8]

Voltaggio received an AOS degree in culinary arts in 1999 from The Culinary Institute of America. [8] He was mentored by chef Charlie Palmer and Gerry Hayden, while working at restaurant Aureole. [8] [9] [10]

Restaurant career

In 2003, Voltaggio worked as the head chef at Charlie Palmer Steak. [8]

Bryan, along with brother Michael, opened STRFSH, a fast-casual fish sandwich shop in Santa Monica, open from October 2017 to 2021. [11] The Voltaggio brothers had co-owned Estuary in Washington D.C., which operated under their leadership from 2019 until March 2022. [12]

Restaurants

Active

  • Voltaggio Brothers Steak House, MGM National Harbor, Oxon Hill (December 2016–present) [13]
  • Showroom, Frederick (2020–present)
  • Wye Oak Tavern at Visitation Hotel, Frederick (2024–present) [14]

Closed

  • Thacher & Rye, Frederick (2020–2024) [15]
  • VOLT, Frederick (2008–2020) [16]
  • Aggio, Baltimore (2014–2018) [17]
  • Family Meal, Baltimore (2015–August 2016) [17]
  • STRFSH, Santa Monica (2017–2021) [18]
  • Estuary, Washington D.C. (2019–March 2022) [12]
  • Lunchbox, Frederick, MD

Television appearances

Voltaggio was the runner-up of the sixth season of Top Chef , Bravo's cooking competition show, placing second to his brother, Michael Voltaggio; [19] subsequently he was also the runner-up on the fifth season of Top Chef Masters , and again runner-up to Melissa King on the seventeenth season of Top Chef: All-Stars L.A. [20] He was the first chef to compete on both Top Chef and Top Chef Masters. [21]

In 2022, both Voltaggio brothers appeared on season three of Guy Fieri's Tournament of Champions on the Food Network. [22] [23]

In April 2024, Voltaggio and his brother were guest judges in the first season of the Food Network show 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing. [24] He returned as a contestant in the second season in April 2025, [25] finishing as the runner-up.

In December 2025, Voltaggio and his brother competed as a team in the first season of the Food Network show Tournament of Champions: All-Star Christmas and won.

Awards, nominations and accolades

Personal life

Voltaggio lives in Maryland with his wife Jennifer and their three children. [27]

Publications

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Family Style". Baltimore Style. February 23, 2015. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
  2. ↑ Marshall, Ryan (2024-06-30). "Frederick's Thacher & Rye closes; new restaurant coming Friday". The Frederick News-Post.
  3. ↑ "Voltaggio, Bryan 1976-". OCLC WorldCat Identities.
  4. ↑ "One Top Chef Contestant Has Been Runner-Up Three Times - But Never Won". CBR. 2021-12-03. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  5. 1 2 Holl, Joel (November 20, 2014). "Life of Bryan". Baltimore Magazine. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  6. ↑ "'Top Chef' favorites the Voltaggio brothers battle it out in new cooking competition". The Mercury News. 2021-06-15. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  7. ↑ "'Top Chef' favorites the Voltaggio brothers battle it out in new cooking competition". Daily News. 2021-06-11. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Bryan Voltaggio: From a teenager 'amok' to 'Top Chef Masters'". Washington Post. July 23, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Top Chef - Bios - Bryan Voltaggio | Bravo TV Official Site". Bravo. Archived from the original on 2010-09-16. Retrieved 2010-09-21.
  10. ↑ Ulla, Gabe (2011-07-05). "Bryan Voltaggio on the Importance of Balance in Cooking". Eater. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  11. ↑ Kang, Matthew (2017-10-31). "Michael and Bryan Voltaggio's STRFSH grills fish sandwiches in Santa Monica starting today". Eater LA. Retrieved 2021-04-28.
  12. 1 2 Plumb, Tierney (2022-03-22). "Estuary Returns With New Mid-Atlantic Delicacies — and No More Voltaggio Brothers". Eater DC. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  13. ↑ Sietsema, Tom (April 12, 2017). "Voltaggio Brothers Steak House Review". Washington Post.
  14. ↑ "Visitation Hotel".
  15. ↑ "Chef Bryan Voltaggio's Frederick restaurant Thacher & Rye to close; will become The Ordinary Hen". Baltimore Sun. 29 June 2024. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
  16. ↑ "Bryan Voltaggio's Frederick restaurant Volt reopens as Thacher & Rye". Baltimore Sun. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  17. 1 2 Yeager, Amanda (December 20, 2018). "Court rules Bryan Voltaggio owes Cordish $3.1M over shuttered Baltimore restaurants". Bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  18. ↑ Saria, Lauren (2022-11-01). "The Voltaggio Brothers Are Opening an Italian Restaurant at This Upscale California Ski Resort". Eater SF. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
  19. ↑ "'Top Chef' Winners: Where Are They Now?". Us Weekly. 2021-07-02. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  20. ↑ "Who Won Top Chef All Stars: L.A.?". E! Online. 2020-06-19. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  21. ↑ Canavan, Hillary Dixler (2013-09-26). "Douglas Keane: Winner of Top Chef Masters Season 5". Eater. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  22. ↑ "Tournament of Champions III: Battle Recap – Week 6". Guilty Eats. 2022-04-05. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  23. ↑ Del Rosario, Alexandra (2022-01-18). "Guy Fieri's 'Tournament Of Champions' Renewed For Season 3 At Food Network". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  24. ↑ Maas, Jennifer (2024-02-29). "Food Network Sets 24-Hours-Straight Cooking Competition 'Last Chef Standing' Hosted by Michael Symon and Esther Choi (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
  25. ↑ Maas, Jennifer (2025-03-12). "'24 in 24: Last Chef Standing' Sets Season 2 Premiere at Food Network as New A-List Chef Contestants Revealed (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
  26. 1 2 "James Beard Foundation search for Volt". James Beard Foundation. Archived from the original on 17 October 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  27. ↑ "It's a Girl For Bryan Voltaggio and Wife!". Bravo. 2013-07-13. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
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