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Shape’s “The Top 25 Hottest Chefs in America” is a photo-and-interview feature published on September 11, 2013—not a current ranking. It presents 25 chefs in the order they appear and pairs the portraits with their thoughts on date-night cooking, exercise, and food splurges. The “hottest” label is the magazine’s subjective framing; the feature gives no ranking method.
Who made Shape’s 2013 list?
The names and locations below reflect how Shape identified the chefs in 2013. They should not be read as a guide to current restaurant roles or locations.
- Michael Chernow — New York
- Akhtar Nawab — New York
- Michael Voltaggio — Los Angeles
- Michael Schulson — Philadelphia
- Gavin Kaysen — New York
- Jeff McInnis — Miami
- Harold Dieterle — New York
- Ed Kenney — Oahu, Hawaii
- Seamus Mullen — New York
- Marc Forgione — New York
- Evan Hanczor — Brooklyn, New York
- Thiago Silva — New York and Miami
- Michael Symon — Cleveland
- Marco Canora — New York
- Sean Baker — Berkeley, California
- Louis Maldonado — San Francisco
- Stephen Collucci — New York
- Chris Kostow — Napa Valley, California
- Takashi Inoue — New York
- Marcus Samuelsson — New York
- Zach Pollack — Los Angeles
- Brandon Sharp — Calistoga, California
- Scott Conant — New York
- Ludo Lefebvre — Los Angeles
- Ryan Angulo — New York
What did the chefs say about cooking for a date?
The interview’s cooking prompt gives the feature more than a set of portraits: it offers a glimpse of how several chefs described a relaxed meal for two in 2013. These are their answers at the time, not claims about their current routines.
- Michael Chernow: A whole fish grilled with salt, olive oil, herbs, and garlic.
- Michael Voltaggio: Make pizza together using store-bought dough.
- Gavin Kaysen: Squash soup followed by wild mushroom risotto.
- Seamus Mullen: Seafood paella cooked over hardwood on a grill.
- Marc Forgione: Keep dinner light, then make brunch the next day.
- Marcus Samuelsson: Choose a low-maintenance pasta or grill a burger together. “The key is to do something low maintenance that you can prepare together.”
- Zach Pollack: Cook spatchcock chicken under a brick in a hot cast-iron pan.
- Ludo Lefebvre: Steak au poivre for his wife.
What else is in the feature?
Shape also asked about exercise and food splurges, alongside its date-night question. Its coverage is a 2013 snapshot, not a current directory: the restaurant and career descriptions belong to the period in which the piece was published. Read the full photo feature at Shape.
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Astercook Knife Set, 13 Pieces Kitchen Knives Set with Healthy Anti-Rust Coating, Dishwasher Safe, Stainless Steel Chef Knife Sets with 6 Blade Guards, Perfect Holiday Gifts for Kitchen
- Multipurpose Knife Set: This kitchen knives set includes 8" Chef Knife, 8" Slicing Knife, 7" Santoku Knife, 8" Serrated Bread Knife, 5" Utility Knife, 3.5" Paring Knife, Kitchen Shears and 6 pcs Blade Guards
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A cookbook mentioned in the article
Shape identifies Stephen Collucci as the author of Glazed, Filled, Sugared & Dipped: Easy Doughnut Recipes to Fry or Bake at Home. The feature also described Scott Conant’s The Scarpetta Cookbook as forthcoming in October 2013; that wording is historical and does not establish its present availability.
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Henckels Statement 15 pc Knife Block Set, Razor-Sharp, German Engineered
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Astercook Knife Set for Kitchen with Block and Sharpener 15pcs German
- 【15 Pieces Multipurpose Knife Set】 15 pieces knife set includes: 8" Chef knife, 8" Slicing knife, 7" Santoku knife, 8" Serrated bread knife, 5" Utility knife, 3.5" Paring knife, 6 Pcs 4.5" serrated steak knife, 1 Pc kitchen shear, and Black hard wood Knife Block with built-in Knife Sharpener.
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DRAGON RIOT Damascus Kitchen Knife Set, Damascus Steel, Damascus Pattern
- 14-in-1 Professional Chef Knife Set - The Dragon Riot Chef Knives Set includes: an 8" Chef Knife, an 8" Bread Knife, an 8" Slicing Knife, a 7" Cleaver Knife, a 7" Santoku Knife, a 6" Boning Knife, a 5" Utility Knife, a 4" Paring Knife, and a roll bag. This knife set can fulfill most of your kitchen needs with just one purchase. An exquisite gift for chefs, family, men and friends!
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DRGSKL Kitchen Knife Set with Bag - 6 PCS Chef Knife Set with Wooden Handle
- ATS-34 Steel – Forged with Traditional Japanese Precision.This kitchen knife set is forged using time-honored Japanese craftsmanship and premium ATS-34 steel, a high-carbon steel known for its hardness and fine grain. Sharpened through a multi-stage wet grinding process—(Mizukensaku)—the edge achieves superior precision. This meticulous hand-forging reflects the spirit of Japanese blade-making, where durability meets refined artistry.
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- Dual-Tech Black Shield – Superior Coating Technology.This chef knife set features Japan’s exclusive Dual-Tech Black Shield coating—a combination of refined silver-tone finishing and ultra-durable black titanium plating. The surface with a sleek matte finish that’s easy to clean and built to last. Designed to perform under the rigors of daily kitchen use, it maintains its elegant appearance without peeling or fading over time.
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