Tom Colicchio

Tom Colicchio is a chef, restaurateur and television personality best known as the head judge on Bravo’s Top Chef. Colicchio was raised in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and began cooking at an early age under the guidance of his family. He did not attend culinary school but instead began working in restaurants as a teenager, building his experience in professional kitchens.

Colicchio’s career began in New York City, where he worked under various chefs before opening Gramercy Tavern in 1994 with Danny Meyer. The restaurant was a major success and helped establish Colicchio’s reputation in the culinary world. In 2001, he launched his own restaurant group with the opening of Craft, which went on to earn a James Beard Award.

He joined Top Chef in 2006 as a head judge, becoming a central figure in the series and earning an Emmy Award in 2010 for Outstanding Reality Competition Programming. He expanded his Craft Hospitality group to include restaurants like Craftbar, Colicchio & Sons and Temple Court. Colicchio has also appeared in various food documentaries, including A Place at the Table (2012) and on shows like Best New Restaurant.

Colicchio married filmmaker Lori Silverbush in 2001. The couple share sons Luka and Mateo. He also has an older son, Dante, from a previous relationship.