Austin is from Palos Verdes, California and may seem like a laid-back surfer - but he’s a skilled chef who already has experience working in Italy’s fine dining scene. Now living in Costa Rica, he is a natural leader on a mission to be the best at everything he does – especially cooking. Austin’s culinary approach was refined during the time he spent in Italy working with light, fresh, clean flavors and the finest ingredients – and he can’t wait to experience Puglia.

Stikxz grew up in a Jamaican family where life centered around food. She is passionate about global cuisine and her cooking style is as bright, big and bold as her personality. Her love of Italian food began at a friend’s Sunday dinner, leading to her combining Caribbean and Italian flavors in her own dishes. She is excited to experience the culture and cuisine of Italy and give all she has to this competition.

Devan spent his childhood cooking with his mother, which planted the seed for his successful culinary career. He and his mom now own a restaurant together specializing in Southern flavors with a modern twist. Devan gained a passion for Italian cuisine while working in a scratch Italian kitchen. He is extremely competitive and never backs down from a challenge – and he’s bringing all that energy with him to Italy.

Drew has a big personality and is always the life of the party. After discovering his passion and talent for cooking, this self-taught chef worked his way up to an executive chef role by the time he was just 23 years old. He worked in an Italian restaurant where he fell in love with the cuisine – especially fresh pasta. He can’t wait to immerse himself in Southern Italy’s food world and bring the knowledge back to Chicago.