'Top Chef' crowns Filipina Rhoda Magbitang as 23rd season winner

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MANILA, Philippines — Antipolo-born chef Rhoda Magbitang was named the newest winner of reality television series "Top Chef," winning its 23rd season shot around North and South Carolina in the United States.

Magbitang won over fellow finalists Sherry Cardoso and Laurence Louie to secure the $250,000, or P15.3-million, grand prize. She became the show’s first winner from Hawaii and the second Filipino winner after Season 9’s Paul Qui.

The Filipina chef began the contest strong by winning the first two elimination challenges, another first in the show’s history.

However, she was eliminated in the fifth episode after judges Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons, joined by "Top Chef: Wisconsin" runner-up Savannah Miller and restaurateurs Katy and Joe Kindred, deemed her squid ink-crusted roasted monkfish with squid ink adobo sauce, dehydrated broccoli and garlic chip disappointing.

Comeback run. Magbitang re-entered the main competition in Episode 9 after winning four of the five "Last Chance Kitchen" challenges. She survived elimination again despite landing among the bottom entries.

She finished strong by winning three Quickfire Challenges for the following dishes:

• Warm Corn, Pecan & Shrimp Salad with Scuppernong & Tamarind Vinaigrette
• Peach & Burrata Tostada with Corn Relish & Chipotle Aioli
• Poached Cod with Mussels Steamed in White Wine & Paprika

The Filipina chef also fared well in three of the last four elimination challenges, winning Episode 12 with lumpia that had stuffed cabbage, pawpaw ponzu, apple butter mostarda and buckwheat chili crisp.

Filipino flavors in the finale

Episode 14 had the three finalists create the "best four-course progressive meal of their lives," with each course representing "a toast to someone or something that significantly impacted them."

• Roasted Sweet Potato with Miso Butter, Fresh Uni & Charred Sweet Potato Leaves
• Abalone Lugaw with Abalone Liver Mousse
• Grilled Eggplant Omelet with XO Sauce, Vinegar, Crispy Pork Belly, Chili & Fish Sauce
• Braised Short Rib with Liver Sauce & Vegetables

In layman's terms, Magbitang won for cooking roasted kamote, lugaw, tortang talong and kaldereta.

The kaldereta, dedicated to her father, made Magbitang the only finalist who did not make her fourth course a dessert.

Season 23 of "Top Chef" was also marked by the inclusion of identical twins Brandon and Jonathan Dearden, as well as life partners Jennifer Lee Jackson and Justin Tootla. Jackson was medically pulled mid-season due to a prior injury.

Magbitang, who immigrated to California when she was 17 years old to pursue teaching dreams, is the executive chef of Hawaii's Japanese-inspired CanoeHouse. She previously cooked in several prominent Los Angeles restaurants.

RELATED: 'Symphony of flavors': Laufey tries Lumpia, Turon, Puto, more Filipino treats