Charbel Hayek | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Education | French School of Excellence |
| Culinary career | |
| Cooking style | Lebanese, Levantine, and Eastern Mediterranean |
Charbel Hayek is a Lebanese chef based in Los Angeles, known for his appearances on the television series Top Chef . His cooking features Lebanese, Levantine, and Eastern Mediterranean influences, often with a California twist. [1] [2]
Born in Beirut, Lebanon, [3] Hayek learned cooking from his mother. [4] After graduating from high school, he left Lebanon and moved to Paris to study at the French School of Excellence. [5]
Hayek worked under Chef Josiah Citrin at the two-Michelin-starred restaurant, Mélisse in Los Angeles, for nearly three years. [1]
In 2021 and at the age of 24, he won the Season 5 of the Arabic version of Top Chef . [6] [5]
After winning his season of the Arabic-language edition of the cooking series, Hayek was chosen to compete in Top Chef: World All-Stars , making him the youngest and least experienced chef among the contestants. [7] However, he won the season's first Elimination Challenge. [7] Although he was eventually eliminated, he had few setbacks throughout the competition. [7]
He later relocated to Florida to work as a private chef, eventually making his way back to LA. [8]
Hayek opened his first restaurant, [9] Ladyhawk, a name inspired by his mother. [8]
His second restaurant in Los Angeles, Laya, combines farmers market ingredients with California, Lebanese, and other Levantine flavors. [3] In 2025, a branch of Laya Restaurant was opened in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter. [1]
In 2025, Hayek opened BarVera on Bedford Street in Stamford, Connecticut. [10] [11]