Vegas Chef Phillip Dell Takes Home Prize On Food Network's "Chopped"

Award-winning Chef Phillip Dell took home the prize as he competed in a unique episode of the Food Network’s ”Chopped” last night, Thursday, May 30. The Las Vegas native beat out three chefs in the competition in the “Cook Your Butt Off” episode, which featured four chefs with incredible weight-loss stories.

As they charged into the Chopped Kitchen to compete, the chefs – Chris Avtges, Elizabeth Mwanga, Joel Gargano, and Phillip Dell – shared emotional stories of weight loss and transformation to a healthy diet and lifestyle. In the first mystery basket, the competitors found a fatty protein that challenged them to stick to healthier food philosophies. In the entrée round, there was a fish to break down and a snack food to transform, and when the final two physically fit competitors dash into the dessert round, the judges watched eagerly to see if the angel food cake creations would be heavenly. In the end, Chef Dell took the “cake.”

“Being on the show was an absolute blast, and winning was completely surreal,” said Chef Phillip Dell. “I wanted to show people that they can transform their bodies and the way they feel, simply by transforming the foods they eat. There were some extremely tense moments, but looking back, things worked out very well.”

After enduring a compelling weight loss journey and losing 92 pounds in just over one year, Chef Dell, owner of Sin City Chefs, began teaching classes in healthy cooking and eating. Chef Dell works to teach others how to turn the foods they love into healthier versions while maintaining great taste. He has cooked for stars of music and film, and helped clients achieve their weight loss and health goals. He teaches healthy eating seminars and won the endorsement of the American Heart Association in recognition of his heart-healthy menus and cooking style.

Hailing from Traverse City, Mich., Chef Dell moved to Las Vegas in 2005 and worked as a pastry chef at Wynn Las Vegas. Halfway through his weight loss journey, Chef Dell was introduced to the sport of bodybuilding. In his first year competing, Dell finished top five in six shows and competed as a part of Team USA in the 2007 Natural Olympia in Greece. He holds the title of World Champion for the Deadlift in his weight class with a 440 pound lift.