Top Chef Winner Rhoda Magbitang Launches Auberge Culinary Residency

Following her victory on Bravo’s Top Chef, Executive Chef Rhoda Magbitang is embarking on a high-profile culinary residency across Auberge Resorts Collection properties. The series, which runs from June 2026 through early 2027, features collaborative dinners with fellow Season 23 contestants, including Sieger Bayer, Oscar Diaz, and Brittany Cochran. The tour kicked off at the Mauna Lani on Hawaii’s Big Island, where the chefs utilized the resort’s Surf Shack venue to present a multi-course menu highlighting local ingredients and their individual culinary styles.

This partnership represents a strategic move for the Auberge brand, blending the prestige of reality television stardom with the luxury hospitality experience. By hosting these intimate, chef-led events, the resort group is positioning its properties as premier destinations for culinary tourism. The initiative also coincides with broader property enhancements, such as the recent opening of the exclusive Francis Brown Club at Mauna Lani, signaling a focus on high-end, experiential guest offerings.

The residency is set to travel to several iconic locations, including Hotel Jerome in Aspen, The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern in California, and Stanly Ranch in Napa Valley. For the hospitality industry, this collaboration underscores the growing trend of leveraging celebrity chef partnerships to drive bookings and elevate brand identity. As Magbitang continues her tour, these events serve as both a celebration of her recent professional success and a sophisticated marketing vehicle for the Auberge portfolio.