RUNNERS ADDED TO THE TENSION… WITH THE ANIMALS PASSING JUST INCHES FROM A U-C SANTA CRUZ ALUMNA RECENTLY WON A COOKING SHOW THAT AIRS ON KSBW NBC. HER NAME IS EMILY BRUBAKER. SHE GRADUATED FROM U-C SANTA CRUZ IN 2003 AND WENT ON TO TRAIN AS AS A CHEF. SHE FACED OFF AGAINST 11 OTHER PROFESSIONAL CHEFS IN THE FIRST SEASON OF THE SERIES “YES CHEF!” HER JUDGES… MARTHA STEWART AND AWARD WINNING CHEF JOS? ANDR?S GIVING HER THE WIN. ## SHE TOOK HOME A 250 THOUSAND DOLLAR CASH PRIZE FOR HER WIN. SHE SAYS SH
UC Santa Cruz alumna wins cooking show judged by Martha Stewart
Updated: 3:18 PM PDT Jul 9, 2025
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A UC Santa Cruz alumna won the first season of the cooking show “Yes Chef!” judged by Martha Stewart and José Andrés, taking home a $250,000 cash prize. Emily Brubaker, who graduated in 2003 and trained as a chef, competed against 11 other professional chefs.”The whole experience was so like, feels like a dream. So the whole win, I didn’t expect it. I worked hard. I told myself every day, you’ve got to do this. You’ve got to keep going. You gotta win, and the fact I did, it’s just, it’s so exciting, and I’m so proud,” Brubaker said.She plans to use the prize money to relocate from Las Vegas to San Diego.See more coverage of top Central Coast stories | Download our app / Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. —
A UC Santa Cruz alumna won the first season of the cooking show “Yes Chef!” judged by Martha Stewart and José Andrés, taking home a $250,000 cash prize.
Emily Brubaker, who graduated in 2003 and trained as a chef, competed against 11 other professional chefs.
“The whole experience was so like, feels like a dream. So the whole win, I didn’t expect it. I worked hard. I told myself every day, you’ve got to do this. You’ve got to keep going. You gotta win, and the fact I did, it’s just, it’s so exciting, and I’m so proud,” Brubaker said.
She plans to use the prize money to relocate from Las Vegas to San Diego.
See more coverage of top Central Coast stories | Download our app / Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel