Meet the Chefs Competing on Ciao House, Season 2

Austin is from Palos Verdes, California and may seem like a laid-back surfer - but he’s a skilled chef who already has experience working in Italy’s fine dining scene. Now living in Costa Rica, he is a natural leader on a mission to be the best at everything he does – especially cooking. Austin’s culinary approach was refined during the time he spent in Italy working with light, fresh, clean flavors and the finest ingredients – and he can’t wait to experience Puglia.

Stikxz grew up in a Jamaican family where life centered around food. She is passionate about global cuisine and her cooking style is as bright, big and bold as her personality. Her love of Italian food began at a friend’s Sunday dinner, leading to her combining Caribbean and Italian flavors in her own dishes. She is excited to experience the culture and cuisine of Italy and give all she has to this competition.

Devan spent his childhood cooking with his mother, which planted the seed for his successful culinary career. He and his mom now own a restaurant together specializing in Southern flavors with a modern twist. Devan gained a passion for Italian cuisine while working in a scratch Italian kitchen. He is extremely competitive and never backs down from a challenge – and he’s bringing all that energy with him to Italy.

Drew has a big personality and is always the life of the party. After discovering his passion and talent for cooking, this self-taught chef worked his way up to an executive chef role by the time he was just 23 years old. He worked in an Italian restaurant where he fell in love with the cuisine – especially fresh pasta. He can’t wait to immerse himself in Southern Italy’s food world and bring the knowledge back to Chicago.

Though she descends from Irish & Scandinavian heritage, the Italian traditions and flavors that surrounded Hanna during her upbringing on New York’s Long Island ignited her passion for food. This inspiration led to her first job at an Italian restaurant, marking the beginning of her lifelong journey in the culinary arts. She has traveled across the globe to over 20 countries, but this is her first time in Italy – and she can’t wait to have the experience of a lifetime.

Ivan is confident, cool and ready to take on any challenge. His culinary talent and drive have taken him from humble beginnings to career success but he’s just getting started. He has extensive experience with Italian cuisine and loves the way it promotes community and simplicity – and he can make fresh pasta in his sleep! He is ready for this Italian adventure to shake up his life and take him to the next level.

Culinary talent runs in Jan’s family, including her father who hails from Pampanga, a region in the Philippines known for its food, and her mother who is from Manila. In addition to growing up with Filipino-influenced dishes, she also experienced Italy’s cuisine first-hand as a child when her father was stationed there with the Navy. She loves combining Filipino and Italian flavors, making her dishes very unique. She is a former mortgage banker who decided to follow her dreams of a career in food – and she has never looked back.

Maria grew up with culinary influences from both sides of her family – her mother is Sicilian and taught her classic Italian dishes, while her Dominican chef father imparted a love of Latin food. In her household, the cuisines blended beautifully together with their fresh, bright flavors. She’s a self-made chef on the rise who can’t wait to experience Italy and fight for the prize of a lifetime.

Phuoc was raised in a traditional Vietnamese family surrounded by incredible food. After briefly studying to become a pharmacist, he decided to pursue his passion and attend culinary school. He sees parallels between Vietnamese and Italian food and can’t wait to put his own twist on dishes during the competition. Visiting Italy has always been a dream for him, and he can’t wait to soak in everything the country has to offer.

Shannon grew up making meatballs with her Italian grandmother and has always felt drawn to visit Italy. Now a restaurant owner, her food reflects both her Southern background and Italian heritage – including her menu’s authentic scratch-made dishes. She’s looking forward to exploring her roots and bringing Italian inspiration back to Texas.

Tiana Gee is a Filipina and Black Los Angeles native who celebrates her heritage through fusion cuisine at her pop-up restaurant. She's a classically trained chef whose flavors and personality are bold. Her passion for content creation and traveling are the focus of her social platforms. Tiana’s culinary background is well-versed in many different cuisines including Italian, and she's ready to bring her edge to Italy!