Home / Arts and Entertainment / Top Chef Winner Rhoda Magbitang: No Spending Plans Yet!
Top Chef Winner Rhoda Magbitang: No Spending Plans Yet!
21 Jun
Summary
- Rhoda Magbitang won Top Chef Season 23, receiving $250,000.
- Magbitang revealed a heated confrontation between Sieger Bayer and judges.
- She plans to allocate some prize money for travel, but has no firm plans.
Rhoda Magbitang has emerged victorious as the Top Chef Season 23 champion, earning a substantial $250,000 prize. Magbitang, who attended the 2026 Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, expressed that she has not yet formulated any concrete plans for her winnings. She humorously remarked about her residence in Hawaii, suggesting the prize money might only cover a few cartons of eggs.
During her conversation, Magbitang also shed light on an un-aired, emotional moment from the penultimate episode. Contestant Sieger Bayer engaged in a heated exchange with judges Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons, and Kristen Kish following his elimination. Bayer was criticized for the texture of his chicken liver pâté, which judges felt melted due to the humid Carolina weather.
Bayer, who had been previously eliminated and brought back, was particularly vocal, telling Kristen Kish he was offering feedback on their feedback. Magbitang noted that the judges' decision to address Bayer's outburst and the subsequent raw emotions helped the remaining contestants feel more comfortable and move past the tense situation.
