Antonia Lofaso has made a notable comeback to the Food Network as one of the esteemed chefs in the sixth season of Tournament of Champions. Currently vying for the prestigious TOC title, she has her sights set on the formidable grand prize of $150,000.
A distinguished chef and television personality, Antonia has carved a niche for herself in the culinary world, thanks to her exceptional cooking talents and appearances on various hit shows, including Cutthroat Kitchen, Chopped, Wildcard Kitchen, and Worst Cooks in America. As of 2025, her net worth is estimated to be around $5 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
In addition to her television endeavors, Antonia is an accomplished restaurateur in Los Angeles, operating several establishments: Scopa Italian Roots in Venice, Liquor Bar in Studio City, and DAMA in Downtown Los Angeles.
Meet Antonia Lofaso: A Culinary Icon
Born in 1976 in Long Island, New York, Antonia Lofaso has a rich heritage, drawing from both Italian and Jewish roots. She developed a passion for cooking early on and honed her skills by attending the prestigious French Culinary Institute in New York City while managing the restaurant Justin, owned by Sean Combs.
Upon completion of her studies, she further refined her culinary expertise in some of Los Angeles’ most celebrated kitchens, beginning her journey as a chef at Wolfgang Puck’s acclaimed Spago.
In 2011, Antonia took a significant step in her career by collaborating with Mario Guddemi and Sal Aurora to launch her first restaurant, Black Market Liquor Bar, in Studio City, which showcased a diverse range of American cuisine and cocktails.
By 2013, she opened her second restaurant, Scopa – Italian Roots, located in Venice, where she focused on authentic Italian dishes. Three years later, in 2018, she debuted her third restaurant, DAMA.
Antonia’s television journey began as a contestant on the fourth season of Top Chef in 2008, where she impressively secured third place. She returned for Top Chef: All-Stars in 2010, once again showcasing her skills with another third-place finish.
She became a well-known figure on the Food Network, gaining recognition as a judge on Cutthroat Kitchen from 2013 to 2017, and participated as a contestant on Chopped in 2015. Her collaboration with Guy Fieri has also been significant, appearing as a judge on Guy’s Grocery Games and contributing to Fieri’s documentaries, including Restaurant Hustle 2020: All On the Line and Restaurant Hustle 2021: Back in Business.
Antonia Lofaso’s Journey in Tournament of Champions
Antonia has been a participant in the Tournament of Champions since its debut season in 2020, where she showcased her culinary prowess by reaching the semifinals, ultimately finishing behind Brooke Williamson.
In the second season, she continued to display her cooking versatility and composure under pressure, yet once again faced elimination by Brooke in the semifinals. Unfortunately, seasons 3 and 4 didn’t favor Antonia, leading to early departures from the competition.
Returning for season 5 with renewed determination, she advanced to the finals but fell short against Maneet Chauhan. Presently, she is competing in season 6, having triumphed in both of her battles featured in episodes 1 and 6.
New episodes of Tournament of Champions Season 6 air every Sunday on the Food Network, and viewers can expect thrilling culinary battles as Antonia continues her quest for victory.