Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Brooke Williamson has built a career filled with accolades, from winning Top Chef Season 14 to becoming the first-ever champion of Tournament of Champions. She currently serves as one of the three titans on Bobby’s Triple Threat on Food Network and released her debut cookbook, Sun-Kissed Cooking: Vegetables Front & Center, in 2024.
Williamson’s passion for cooking began early, and by age 17, she had already started her culinary career. She worked as a teacher’s assistant at the Epicurean Institute of Los Angeles before moving into the kitchen as a pastry assistant at Fenix at the Argyle Hotel, training under Michelin-starred chef Ken Frank. She then joined Michael’s of Santa Monica, where she quickly rose from line cook to sous chef, making her the restaurant’s youngest to hold the role. Seeking to expand her experience, Williamson staged at Daniel, the renowned New York City restaurant by Chef Daniel Boulud. By age 22, she was appointed executive chef of the celebrated Boxer in Los Angeles, marking the beginning of her leadership in the kitchen.
Following her role at Boxer, Williamson opened Zax in Brentwood as executive chef, where she developed her signature California-inspired cuisine, blending local ingredients with global influences. It was at Zax that she met Nick Roberts, her future husband and business partner. Together, they launched their first independent project, Amuse Café in Venice, followed by Beechwood, which earned them StarChefs’ “Rising Star Chefs” award in 2004.
In 2014, Williamson and Roberts opened Playa Provisions, a unique four-in-one concept in Playa del Rey. It houses King Beach (a grab-and-go marketplace), Small Batch (an artisanal ice cream shop), Dockside (a seafood restaurant), and Grain (an intimate whiskey bar). Their other Southern California ventures, including Hudson House, The Tripel, and Da Kikokiko, closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Williamson has been a fixture on national television, winning Top Chef Season 14 in Charleston after previously finishing as runner-up on Top Chef Season 10 in Seattle. She has also competed in Top Chef Duels, Knife Fight, Guy’s Grocery Games, and BBQ Brawl, and served as West Coast captain on Food Network’s Beachside Brawl in 2022.
Outside the kitchen, Williamson is a regular at food festivals, including Coachella, the Aspen Food & Wine Classic, and South Beach Wine & Food Festival. She is also an active supporter of No Kid Hungry and other philanthropic efforts. When not cooking, she enjoys running, playing tennis, and spending time with her son, Hudson.
