Buddha Lo

Lo was born in Australia to a Hongkonger father and Malaysian mother.{{cite web|url=https://parade.com/tv/top-chef-20-world-all-stars-buddha-lo-winner|date=9 June 2023|access-date=12 June 2023|last=Bloom|first=Mike|website=Parade|title='Top Chef: World All-Stars' Winner Buddha Lo Breaks Down His Historic Victory|archive-date=10 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610110610/https://parade.com/tv/top-chef-20-world-all-stars-buddha-lo-winner|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://uproxx.com/life/top-chef-winner-buddha-lo-interview/|date=7 June 2022|access-date=11 June 2023|last=Mancini|first=Vince|website=Uproxx|title=Top Chef Winner Buddha Lo On Growing Up Eating Dugong And Why You Can't Call Employees Donkeys Anymore|archive-date=7 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607160118/https://uproxx.com/life/top-chef-winner-buddha-lo-interview/|url-status=live}} He was raised in Port Douglas, where his family owns a Chinese restaurant called the Jade Inn.{{cite web|url=https://people.com/food/top-chef-houston-crowns-a-new-winner/|date=2 June 2022|access-date=16 June 2023|last=Calderone|first=Ana|website=People|title='Top Chef' Crowns a New Winner: 'It Was Always Win or Nothing'|archive-date=3 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220603014904/https://people.com/food/top-chef-houston-crowns-a-new-winner/|url-status=live}} During his childhood, he earned the nickname "Buddha" due to becoming chubby from "eating too much of [his] dad's food."{{cite web|url=https://www.markys.com/blog/buddha-lo-top-chef-restaurant|date=4 June 2022|access-date=12 June 2023|website=Marky's|title=Buddha Lo on What's Next After His 'Top Chef: Houston' Victory (EXCLUSIVE)|archive-date=12 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230612053651/https://www.markys.com/blog/buddha-lo-top-chef-restaurant|url-status=live}} Lo started working at the family restaurant at age 12.{{cite web|url=https://weknowmelbourne.com.au/2016/09/06/interview-buddha-lo-of-matteos/|date=6 September 2016|access-date=27 June 2022|website=We Know Melbourne|title=Interview: Buddha Lo of Matteos|archive-date=24 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324173247/https://weknowmelbourne.com.au/2016/09/06/interview-buddha-lo-of-matteos/|url-status=live}} At age 14, he began a school-based culinary apprenticeship, working at a five-star hotel and resort on his weekends.{{cite web|url=https://sharpmagazine.com/2022/11/01/buddha-lo-interview/|date=1 November 2022|access-date=12 June 2023|last=Marsh|first=Calum|website=Sharp|title=View From the Top: In Interview With Buddha Lo|archive-date=10 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221110134155/https://sharpmagazine.com/2022/11/01/buddha-lo-interview/|url-status=live}}

Lo moved to Melbourne at age 17 after graduating high school, landing a job at Matteo's Restaurant and enrolling at the William Angliss Institute.{{cite web|url=https://www.angliss.edu.au/about/news/angliss-alum-buddha-lo-reaches-new-heights/|date=17 June 2022|access-date=27 June 2022|website=William Angliss Institute|title=Angliss alum Buddha Lo reaches new heights|archive-date=30 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630163227/https://www.angliss.edu.au/about/news/angliss-alum-buddha-lo-reaches-new-heights/|url-status=live}} While in culinary school, Lo won a scholarship for a two-month stage at the two Michelin star restaurant Café Lavinal at the Château Cordeillan-Bages hotel in Pauillac, France.

Returning to Australia, Lo was hired by Raymond Capaldi to work at his restaurant Hare & Grace, becoming its head chef by age 19.{{cite web|url=https://www.chefbuddhalo.com/|access-date=11 June 2023|website=chefbuddhalo.com|title=Buddha Lo|archive-date=31 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331163757/https://www.chefbuddhalo.com/|url-status=live}} After two years with Capaldi, Lo moved to London, where he worked under Clare Smyth and Matt Abé at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay. In 2014, he received the Gordon Ramsay Excellence Award.{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/goodfood/piccolo-melbourne-food-news-20141107-11i6vf.html|last1=McNevin|first1=Hilary|last2=Grundy|first2=Roslyn|date=10 November 2014|access-date=27 June 2022|website=Good Food|title=Piccolo: Melbourne food news|archive-date=12 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230612041435/https://www.smh.com.au/goodfood/piccolo-melbourne-food-news-20141107-11i6vf.html|url-status=live}} After two years in London, Lo staged at various kitchens throughout Europe, including France, Sweden, and Copenhagen, before moving back to Melbourne. Lo was a guest chef at various events, including the Melbourne Cup and the Australian Open, and became a chef ambassador for Lavazza and Tabasco.

Lo then moved to New York City, working at Eleven Madison Park for a year.{{cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/you-can-now-taste-the-top-chef-winners-dishes-in-nyc-060622|date=6 June 2022|access-date=27 June 2022|last=Kravitz Hoeffner|first=Melissa|website=Time Out|title=You can now taste the Top Chef winner's dishes in NYC|archive-date=7 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607055101/https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/you-can-now-taste-the-top-chef-winners-dishes-in-nyc-060622|url-status=live}} In 2019, he became the executive chef at HŪSO, a small caviar-focused restaurant located behind Marky's Caviar retail shop on Madison Avenue.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/16/dining/nyc-restaurant-news.html|date=16 April 2019|access-date=27 June 2022|last=Fabricant|first=Florence|website=The New York Times|title=A Caviar Shop With a Tasting Menu, on the Upper East Side|archive-date=16 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416181914/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/16/dining/nyc-restaurant-news.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.foodandwine.com/news/top-chef/top-chef-season-19-houston-winner|date=2 June 2022|access-date=12 June 2023|last=Lewis|first=Hunter|website=Food & Wine|title=The Future of Fine Dining Is in Good Hands with the Season 19 'Top Chef' Winner|archive-date=3 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220603040406/https://www.foodandwine.com/news/top-chef/top-chef-season-19-houston-winner|url-status=live}} Marky's Caviar and HŪSO moved to Tribeca in 2025.{{cite web|url=https://robbreport.com/food-drink/dining/huso-buddha-lo-markys-caviar-1236196077/|date=6 February 2025|access-date=25 March 2025|last=Latham|first=Tori|website=Robb Report|title=Inside ‘Top Chef’ Champ Buddha Lo’s New N.Y.C. Tasting Menu Restaurant|archive-date=13 March 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250313222308/https://robbreport.com/food-drink/dining/huso-buddha-lo-markys-caviar-1236196077/|url-status=live}}

In 2022, Lo was announced as a contestant on the nineteenth season of Top Chef, titled Top Chef: Houston.{{cite web|url=https://www.foodandwine.com/news/top-chef/top-chef-season-19-houston-chefs-cast-premiere-date|date=24 January 2022|access-date=24 January 2022|last=Campbell-Schmitt|first=Adam|website=Food & Wine|title='Top Chef' Houston: Here Are All the Chefs Competing This Season|archive-date=24 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124200024/https://www.foodandwine.com/news/top-chef/top-chef-season-19-houston-chefs-cast-premiere-date|url-status=live}} A longtime fan of the series, Lo started watching Top Chef at age 15, adding it to his career bucket list. Prior to filming, he binge-watched eight seasons, taking notes on past chefs' mistakes and formulating a strategy for the competition.{{cite web|url=https://www.mashed.com/886560/top-chef-season-19-winner-buddha-lo-on-winning-cooking-and-his-formula-for-success-exclusive/|date=8 June 2022|access-date=27 June 2022|last=Smith|first=Crawford|website=Mashed|title=Top Chef Season 19 Winner Buddha Lo On Winning, Cooking, And Success Formulas - Exclusive Interview|archive-date=7 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607133444/https://www.mashed.com/886560/top-chef-season-19-winner-buddha-lo-on-winning-cooking-and-his-formula-for-success-exclusive/|url-status=live}} He would eventually win the season, receiving its {{US$|250,000}} prize. Buddha dedicated his victory to his late father, Tze-Kwong "Tony" Lo, who died from cancer just two days before he got the call to appear on the show. He was then invited back to compete in the twentieth season, Top Chef: World All-Stars, which included former winners and finalists from several international editions of Top Chef.{{cite web|url=https://www.foodandwine.com/top-chef-all-stars-season-20-premiere-date-7098988|date=25 January 2023|access-date=25 January 2023|last=Leasca|first=Stacey|website=Food & Wine|title='Top Chef' Is Back, These Are the All-Stars Competing This Year|archive-date=25 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125170518/https://www.foodandwine.com/top-chef-all-stars-season-20-premiere-date-7098988|url-status=live}} Lo extensively studied British cuisine during the three months between the conclusion of Houston airing and the beginning of filming for World All-Stars. He was once again declared the winner, receiving his second {{US$|250,000}} prize and becoming the series' first repeat champion.{{cite web|url=https://www.foodandwine.com/top-chef-season-20-winner-finale-recap-7508836|date=8 June 2023|access-date=12 June 2023|last=Campbell-Schmitt|first=Adam|website=Food & Wine|title=Spoiler Alert: Here's the Winner of 'Top Chef' Season 20|archive-date=12 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230612065108/https://www.foodandwine.com/top-chef-season-20-winner-finale-recap-7508836|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/top-chef-winner-buddha-lo-season-20-world-all-stars-padma-lakshmi-1235638694/|date=9 June 2023|access-date=12 June 2023|last=Maas|first=Jennifer|website=Variety|title='Top Chef' Season 20 Winner on Making History as First World All-Star and Why They 'Definitely' Can't Take Over for Host Padma Lakshmi|archive-date=9 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609210329/https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/top-chef-winner-buddha-lo-season-20-world-all-stars-padma-lakshmi-1235638694/|url-status=live}}

Lo is married to pastry chef Rebekah Pedler.{{cite web|url=https://people.com/food/top-chefs-buddha-lo-jokes-his-marry-me-pasta-could-have-been-named-divorce-me-pasta-if-he-lost/|date=22 September 2022|access-date=16 June 2023|last=Calderone|first=Ana|website=People|title='Top Chef's Buddha Lo Jokes His 'Marry Me Pasta' Could Have Been Named 'Divorce Me Pasta' If He Lost|archive-date=22 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922154114/https://people.com/food/top-chefs-buddha-lo-jokes-his-marry-me-pasta-could-have-been-named-divorce-me-pasta-if-he-lost/|url-status=live}} The two met each other while working at Hare & Grace. In June 2023, Pedler announced she was pregnant with twins.{{cite instagram|last=Pedler|first=Rebekah|user=rebekahp87|postid=CtjEHf-gVsO/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D|title=“Fire one double” ✌🏼 ——> 11.11|date=16 June 2023|archive-date=17 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617025726/https://www.instagram.com/p/CtjEHf-gVsO/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D|url-status=live}} Their daughters, Tatiana and Alina, were born in October 2023.{{cite web|url=https://people.com/top-chef-winner-buddha-lo-and-wife-rebekah-pedler-welcome-twins-8382567|date=30 October 2023|access-date=31 October 2023|last1=Sacks|first1=Hannah|last2=Blanchet|first2=Brenton|website=People|title=Top Chef Winner Buddha Lo and Wife Rebekah Pedler Welcome Twin Daughters: 'Let the Fun Begin'|archive-date=30 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030211939/https://people.com/top-chef-winner-buddha-lo-and-wife-rebekah-pedler-welcome-twins-8382567|url-status=live}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://www.chefbuddhalo.com/}}

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Category:Living people

Category:1991 births

Category:Top Chef winners

Category:Australian chefs

Category:Chefs from New York City

Category:Australian people of Chinese descent

Category:Australian people of Malaysian descent