Kah-wai “Buddha” Lo[1] (born 21 August 1991), known professionally as Buddha Lo, is an Australian chef and television personality. He is best known for winning two consecutive seasons of the American television series Top Chef, becoming its first two-time winner.
Early life
Lo was born in Australia to a
Hongkonger father and
Malaysian mother.[2][3] He was raised in
Port Douglas, along with his older brother, where his family owns a Chinese restaurant called the Jade Inn.[3][4] During his childhood, he earned the nickname "
Buddha" due to becoming chubby from "eating too much of [his] dad's food."[3][5] Lo started working at the family restaurant at age 12.[6] At age 14, he began a school-based culinary apprenticeship, working at a five-star hotel and resort on his weekends.[6][7]
Career
Lo moved to
Melbourne at age 17, after graduating high school, landing a job at Matteo's Restaurant and enrolling at the
William Angliss Institute.[6][8] While in culinary school, Lo won a scholarship for a two-month
stage at the two Michelin star restaurant Café Lavinal at the Château Cordeillan-Bages hotel in
Pauillac, France.[8]
Returning to Australia, Lo was hired by Raymond Capaldi to work at his restaurant Hare & Grace, becoming its head chef by age 19.[8][9] After two years with Capaldi, Lo moved to
London, where he worked under
Clare Smyth and Matt Abé at
Restaurant Gordon Ramsay.[7] In 2014, he received the Gordon Ramsay Excellence Award.[10] After two years in London, Lo staged at various kitchens throughout Europe, including France,
Sweden, and
Copenhagen, before moving back to Melbourne.[9] Lo was a guest chef at various events, including the
Melbourne Cup and the
Australian Open, and became a chef ambassador for
Lavazza and
Tabasco.[9]
In 2022, Lo was announced as a contestant on the nineteenth season of Top Chef, titled Top Chef: Houston.[14] A longtime fan of the series, Lo started watching Top Chef at age 15, adding it to his career
bucket list.[13] Prior to filming, he binge-watched eight seasons, taking notes on past chefs' mistakes and formulating a strategy for the competition.[13][15] He would eventually win the season, receiving its US$250,000 prize.[13] Buddha dedicated his victory to his late father, Tze-Kwong "Tony" Lo, who died from cancer just two days before he got the call to appear on the show.[5] He was then invited back to compete in the twentieth season, Top Chef: World All-Stars, which included former winners and finalists from several international editions of Top Chef.[16] Lo extensively studied
British cuisine during the three months between the conclusion of Houston airing and the beginning of filming for World All-Stars.[2] He was once again declared the winner, receiving his second US$250,000 prize and becoming the series' first repeat champion.[17][18]
Personal life
Lo is married to pastry chef Rebekah Pedler.[19] The two met each other while working at Hare & Grace.[19] In June 2023, Pedler announced she was pregnant with twins.[20] Their daughters, Tatiana and Alina, were born in October 2023.[21]