Elia Aboumrad

Aboumrad studied at Ecole Lenôtre. After earning Le Cordon Bleu's 'Grand Diplôme', Aboumrad went on to work under Joël Robuchon in Paris. After several years of training and service, she ultimately became his first female Sous Chef. She then moved to Las Vegas to open his restaurants at the MGM Grand Hotel. Later, she was recruited as executive chef of The Café at The Hotel at Mandalay Bay. The Hotel garnered their fourth AAA Diamond under her regime.[3]

Aboumrad appeared on reality TV show Top Chef on Bravo during its second season and was one of the final four contestants when she was eliminated from the competition. In 2009, she was awarded the internationally recognized 'Universal Excellency Award' for her dedication to the culinary arts. Aboumrad also competed as a contestant on Top Chef: All Stars in 2010, but she was eliminated in the first episode.[1][2][3]

In September 2012, Aboumrad and Uyen Nguyen opened GORGE, a charcuterie house and wine bar, on the famous Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, California.[3][4]

Aboumrad is Mexican and of Lebanese heritage[5]