Chef Antonia Lofaso: The Feisty Italian with Charisma

Chef Antonia Lofaso owns and serves as the executive chef for three renowned restaurants in Los Angeles, California: Black Market Liquor Bar in Studio City, Scopa Italian Roots in Venice, and DAMA in Downtown Los Angeles. Despite offering diverse cuisines and styles, each of her eateries blends her deeply rooted culinary traditions with influences from her travels and formal French training. Additionally, Lofaso is a TV personality, mother, and the author of The Busy Mom’s Cookbook: 100 Recipes for Quick, Delicious, Home-Cooked Meals (Penguin).
Beginning her culinary journey as a manager at rapper Sean Combs’s restaurant, Justin’s, in New York City, Lofaso later pursued a one-year program at the French Culinary Institute in New York. She then worked with Wolfgang Puck at Spago in L.A. and Foxtail in Beverly Hills. In 2008, she made her TV debut on the fourth season of Top Chef, finishing in fourth place. She continued to excel, securing third place in Top Chef: All-Stars and winning the title “Duel” in Top Chef.
Currently, Lofaso co-hosts Food Network’s Worst Cooks in America and has appeared on various cooking shows like Guy’s Grocery Games, Beat Bobby Flay, Chopped, and others. In addition to her successful restaurants and TV career, Lofaso has ventured into businesses like Chefletics, offering athletic-inspired kitchen apparel, and Antonia Lofaso Catering, providing high-end dining experiences for up to 2,000 guests.
In a recent interview in Los Angeles, the multi-talented entrepreneur discussed her various roles and experiences in the culinary world, highlighting the challenges and rewards of motherhood and her journey from New York to L.A. She reflected on her time working with Wolfgang Puck, her appearances on Top Chef, and the valuable lessons she learned throughout her career. Lofaso shared insights into her cooking style, inspirations, and philosophy about food, emphasizing the importance of creating delicious dishes above all else.