Ariane Duarte
New York, NY
BIO
Chef Ariane Duarte’s love for cooking began as she was growing up, watching her grandmother cook the family dinners. She applied and was accepted to the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. Upon her graduation, she was hired as a sous chef at the Highlawn Pavilion in West Orange.
Two years later she accepted a line cook position at The Terrace in NYC. After three years, she accepted a position as the lead grill cook at Dallas’ prestigious Star Canyon. Here she met her husband, Michael, with whom she moved to Chicago to cook in his family’s restaurant.
While in Chicago she broadened her culinary knowledge by taking a position at Trio, and as an assistant for one of Charlie Trotter’s cookbooks. She moved back to NJ and accepted the position as opening chef de cuisine for Vine. Within eight months she was given the title of Executive Chef. During the same time, Ariane was also running her own catering company, CulinAriane, in New Jersey. When Vine closed its doors, Ariane and Michael opened CulinAriane.
Presented with the opportunity to be on Top Chef Season 5, Ariane jumped at the chance. In 2013 she competed and won the premiere season of “Cook Your Ass Off.” With appearances on the Today Show, Iron Chef and the Tyra Banks Show she has not stopped. She has also been a contributing chef for several magazines. In December 2015, Ariane competed on a special holiday episode of Food Network’s “Beat Bobby Flay,” defeating Moroccan French chef Adil Fawzi for the chance to go up against Flay and eventually conquering chef Flay to win. Ariane opened her restaurant Ariane Kitchen & Bar in Verona, New Jersey in the fall of 2014.
Two years later she accepted a line cook position at The Terrace in NYC. After three years, she accepted a position as the lead grill cook at Dallas’ prestigious Star Canyon. Here she met her husband, Michael, with whom she moved to Chicago to cook in his family’s restaurant.
While in Chicago she broadened her culinary knowledge by taking a position at Trio, and as an assistant for one of Charlie Trotter’s cookbooks. She moved back to NJ and accepted the position as opening chef de cuisine for Vine. Within eight months she was given the title of Executive Chef. During the same time, Ariane was also running her own catering company, CulinAriane, in New Jersey. When Vine closed its doors, Ariane and Michael opened CulinAriane.
Presented with the opportunity to be on Top Chef Season 5, Ariane jumped at the chance. In 2013 she competed and won the premiere season of “Cook Your Ass Off.” With appearances on the Today Show, Iron Chef and the Tyra Banks Show she has not stopped. She has also been a contributing chef for several magazines. In December 2015, Ariane competed on a special holiday episode of Food Network’s “Beat Bobby Flay,” defeating Moroccan French chef Adil Fawzi for the chance to go up against Flay and eventually conquering chef Flay to win. Ariane opened her restaurant Ariane Kitchen & Bar in Verona, New Jersey in the fall of 2014.