Have you ever wondered what the net worth of Antonia Lofaso is? Well, this famous chef has built quite a fortune.
Antonia appeared in several reality TV shows and owns a few restaurants in Los Angeles, California.
As of May 2023, Antonia Lofaso’s net worth is estimated to be around $2.5 million.
This post will give you a look at the many kitchen adventures of this American chef and how she built her wealth.
Table of Contents
Early Life
Antonia Marie Lofaso was born on November 23, 1976, in Northridge, Los Angeles, California. Her father Fred Lofaso was from Italy, while her mother is of Jewish-Italian blood.
In addition, Antonia has a brother named Dominick.
Antonia’s dad inspired her into cooking at an early age. He prepared many delicious home-cooked meals during her childhood days.
Those mouthwatering dishes encouraged her to spend most of her time and energy in the kitchen.
Culinary Education
The inspiration Antonia Lofaso got from her dad didn’t end in their home kitchen. She went on to pursue her dreams by attending the French Culinary Institute in New York City.
Antonia took her culinary education seriously. While other women her age spent their money on bags and shoes, she was busy shopping for ladles and other kitchenware.
That time, Antonia Marie Lofaso was so fixated on making menus and arranging tablescapes.
Culinary Career
Antonia Lofaso began her culinary career early on. Even before she graduated from the French Culinary Institute, she was already working as a manager at Justin’s Restaurant.
From New York, Antonia moved back to Los Angeles to work as a chef at Wolfgang Puck’s Spago. From then on, she has become instrumental in improving and transforming top-level Los Angeles restaurants.
She stayed at Spago for 6 years while working closely with high-profile celebrities. After that, she took on the role of executive chef at Foxtail in West Hollywood.
Television Career
From 2008 to 2020, this famous American chef has become a TV personality and appeared in various reality television shows.
Let’s take a look at them one by one.
Top Chef
The first reality TV appearance of Antonia Lofaso was in season four of the show Top Chef: Chicago. Lofaso appeared there as a contestant. She came in 4th place out of the 16 chefs who competed in that series.
She again joined the same show under the title Top Chef: All-Stars. It aired from December 2010 to April 2011. She came in 3rd place.
In 2014, chef Antonia Lofaso participated in Top Chef Duels. It’s a one-episode show where she went toe-to-toe against Mike Isabella—the chef who defeated her on Top Chef: All-Stars.
This time around, Lofaso won the battle.
Cutthroat Kitchen
Antonia Lofaso joined Food Network’s cooking TV program Cutthroat Kitchen as one of the show’s rotating judges.
Moreover, she joined and competed in a Cutthroat Kitchen special episode called “Judging Judges.” In this episode, Lofaso left her judge’s seat and competed with other judges like Jet Tila, Simon Majumdar, and Geoffrey Zakarian.
In the end, Antonia won the competition.
Restaurant Startup
Chef Antonia Lofaso took on another reality television role between the year 2015 and 2016. She was part of CNBC’s food investment show called Restaurant Startup.
Antonia was the show’s seasons 3 and 4 restaurant adviser.
Other TV Shows
She also appeared in the TV show Beat the Chefs. It’s a television program where amateur chefs have to beat three professional chefs in a cook-off.
She likewise took on the role of a judge in a show called Guy’s Grocery Games.
Lastly, Antonia Lofaso appeared on Selena Gomez’s cooking show entitled Selena + Chef. In that episode, Lofaso taught Selena how to prepare a seafood tostada.
Restaurant Career
Apart from being a chef and a television personality, Antonia Lofaso is also a successful restaurateur. She owns a few restaurants in Los Angeles, California.
First Restaurant
Her entrepreneurial adventures began when the restaurant she worked for as an executive chef permanently shut down. Instead of getting discouraged, she and business partners Sal Aurora and Mario Gudemmi opened the Black Market Liquor Bar in Studio City, California.
This restaurant specializes in crafted cocktails. It also serves various dishes such as charred skirt steak, ricotta gnudi, and shishito peppers, among others.
Other Restaurant Business
In 2013, Antonia Lofaso opened yet another restaurant. Located in Venice, California, the Scopa Italian Root honors Antonia’s heritage. It offers old-school Italian food made of fresh ingredients.
Five years later, this business owner and executive chef launched a Latin-inspired restaurant called DAMA.
She also opened The Local Peasant restaurants in Sherman Oaks and Woodland Hills in California.
Writing Career
Antonia Lofaso’s passion for cooking became more evident when she released The Busy Mom’s Cookbook.
She wrote this book to help mothers prepare delicious meals for their families despite their busy schedules.
Personal Life
Throughout the years, chef Antonia Lofaso rose in popularity, especially in the culinary scene. As a result, many became curious about her personal life.
For starters, she had a long-time romantic relationship with Jamaican-born American rapper Heavy D. The couple has a daughter named Xea Myers.
Sadly, the rapper died unexpectedly in November 2011 because of a pulmonary embolism.
Antonia knew how difficult it was to raise her child alone.
So, she put in all the work to overcome the challenges of being a single parent. Antonia’s hard work paid off; Xea Myers grew up very proud of her mom.
Antonia Lofaso Net Worth 2023
As of May 2023, Antonia Lofaso has a net worth of $2.5 million. She built her wealth out of her earnings as a chef, TV personality, and restaurant owner.
She also earned some from the sales of her book.
She spends most of her time now managing and growing her restaurants in California.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What’s Antonia Lofaso’s Favorite Cookbook?
Apart from the book she wrote, Antonia Lofaso’s favorite cookbook is Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child.
Is Antonia Lofaso Married?
No. Antonia Lofaso isn’t married. However, she was engaged until her would-be husband passed away.
Key Takeaways
Home Is Our First School
When the young Antonia Lofaso saw how her father prepared those tasty meals, she was inspired to take on the culinary path.
It shows that whatever our children experience at home plays a huge role in shaping their future.
Another Door Will Open
Don’t get discouraged when a door closes; it could be a blessing in disguise. The permanent closure of the restaurant that Antonia used to work for turned out to be an opportunity.
It propelled her to start her own restaurants.
Maximize Your Talent
Like Antonia Lofaso who first started as a chef, let us maximize our talents to reach new heights.
Antonia did that by joining several cooking shows, opening restaurants, and writing a cookbook.