Jamaican chef Darian Bryan just secured one of the biggest wins of his career after being crowned champion of Next Level Chef on Fox.
Bryan defeated Connor Caine and Nicole “Cole” Lawson in the finals after emerging from a field of 24 contestants made up of professional chefs, home chefs and social media chefs. Throughout the competition, he consistently highlighted his Jamaican roots and Caribbean flavours in his dishes.
Speaking after the win, Bryan said it was a blessing to represent Jamaica on such a major stage, especially while competing on a show led by Gordon Ramsay, who he says inspired him for years.
For the finale, Bryan stayed true to the flavours he grew up around, preparing dishes inspired by Jamaican pepper shrimp and escovitch-style cooking. He said he knew he had to stick with Jamaican cuisine because that was what made him who he is as a chef.