The first of the brothers Dearden to grace the pod! Tune into the pod to hear about his career, time on Top Chef and his social media empire

Growing up in Sterling, Va., Brandon Dearden was drawn to the kitchen, often found cooking alongside his grandma, helping at his father’s restaurant job and cooking on a line while in high school. He shares his passion for food alongside his identical twin brother and fellow competitor, Jonathan, this season. After earning dual degrees in Culinary Arts and International Baking & Pastry, he trained in Las Vegas, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco. His career includes notable roles with Alinea, Saison Hospitality Group, Wolfgang Puck’s Fine Dining Group, Charlie Palmer’s Aureole and Daniel Boulud’s Dinex Group. Now residing in Hamilton, MT, Brandon is the chef and co-owner of Ember and Grano, bringing a live-fire-driven approach to Montana cuisine built on local grain, seasonal agriculture and trusted ranching partners. Ember focuses on incorporating local ingredients, spotlighting its terroir, beef and hyper-seasonal produce. Grano specializes in American-Italian cuisine with well-executed, simple ingredients. Brandon was recently named a James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef in the Mountains. Known for his ability to thrive under pressure, especially fueled by a friendly lifelong sibling rivalry, he approaches every challenge with focus and fire.

Instagram: @chefauthorized