CARLA HALL                                                    Executive Chef & Artistic Culinary Producer

Carla Hall is a co­host of ABC’s popular lifestyle series “The Chew,” seated alongside restaurateurs and “Iron Chef America” stars Mario Batali and Michael Symon, entertaining expert Clinton Kelly and health and wellness enthusiast Daphne Oz.

Hall is best known as a competitor on Bravo’s “Top Chef,” from where she was a finalist on season 5, and won over the judges for her exquisite cooking, and audiences with her philosophy to always cook with love. She returned for Top Chef All-Stars, this time competing against finalists from prior Top Chef Seasons, once again making it into the final competition, and winning fan favorite for the season.

Hall recently announced the development of her very first restaurant – Carla Hall’s Southern Kitchen – slated to open in NYC in Spring 2015. A fast casual love letter to Nashville, the restaurant will feature iconic Nashville Hot Chicken and southern sides, which are anchored by Hall’s family recipes and perfected with her personal touches. Hall is also the owner of Carla Hall Petite Cookies, an artisan cookie company that specializes in creating sweet and savory “petite bites of love.”

 Her approach to cooking blends her classic French training and Southern upbringing for a twist on traditional favorites. She is committed to health and balance in everyday living. Her newest cookbook, Carla’s Comfort Food: Favorite Dishes from Around the World was published in April 2014, and her first cookbook, Cooking with Love: Comfort Food That Hugs You, was published in November 2012 and recently re­released in paperback.

 A native of Nashville, TN, Hall received a degree in Accounting from Howard University, but traveling through Europe awakened her passion for food and inspired a new career path. She attended L’Academie de Cuisine in Maryland where she completed her culinary training, going on to work as a Sous Chef at the Henley Park Hotel in Washington, DC. She also served as Executive Chef at both The State Plaza Hotel and The Washington Club, and has taught classes at CulinAerie, Sur la Table and her alma mater, L’Academie de Cuisine.  

Hall is a true believer that, “If you’re not in a good mood, the only thing you should make is a reservation.” She lives in Washington, DC with her husband, Matthew Lyons, and stepson Noah.