Ralph Pagano, Former Iron Chef Contestant, Leaving STK Miami

Former Hell's Kitchen and Iron Chef contestant Ralph Pagano to leave STK for Gulfstream

​Rumor has it that celebrity chef Ralph Pagano, who's been chef de cuisine at South Beach's swanky STK restaurant inside the Gansevoort Miami Beach for the last year, just put in his two-week notice on Monday. The buzz is that he will take an executive position at Gulfstream Park's restaurants in Hallandale. PR contacts at both the restaurant and casino were unable to confirm or deny the news. We'll update with details as we receive them.

Pagano gained fame by hosting the reality cooking show, Pressure Cook on the Mojo Network; winning runner-up status on Gordon Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen; and wielding his knives against Bobby Flay on Iron Chef America.

The celebrity chef added his own Mediterranean flair to the steakhouse's succulent menu of prime cuts and innovative apps, like shrimp rice krispies and foie gras French toast.

It's not yet known who his replacement will be, but he or she will sure have big shoes to fill in the wake of this talented culinary king of the small screen.

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