“This is a competition that tested me” – 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing’s winner Jonathon Sawyer reflects on his journey

Chef Jonathon Sawyer emerged as the winner of 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing season 2, which concluded with its two-part finale on May 25, 2025, on Food Network. The competition tested chefs across eight continuous shifts, challenging their creativity, endurance, and technical execution.

In his final remarks, Sawyer reflected on the personal and professional significance of the win, stating,

“This is a competition that tested me in a way that I've never been tested before — mentally, physically, emotionally, culinarily. There's no way any other version of myself could've won this, and the best version of me did win.”

The finale featured co-hosts Michael Symon and Esther Choi, with judges Antonia Lofaso, Graham Elliot, and Jet Tila overseeing the climactic breakfast, lunch, and dinner challenges.

Inside Jonathon Sawyer’s path to victory on 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing

Season 2 of 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing concluded with a two-part finale titled “Shift 8: Part 1” and “Shift 8: Part 2,” which aired on May 25, 2025. A final cook-off between Kevin Lee, Kelsey Murphy, and Kathleen O’Brien Price determined the last spot in the top five.

All three had completed 20 hours of cooking. Kevin Lee secured the last position, eliminating Kelsey and Kathleen. In the 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing finale, Jonathon Sawyer advanced through several rigorous rounds to claim the $75,000 prize.

At the start of Shift 8, the final five chefs — Sawyer, Bryan Voltaggio, Stephanie Izard, Nini Nguyen, and Kevin Lee — were tasked with executing elevated versions of breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Each stage required mastery of flavor, technique, and time management after nearly a full day of cooking.

The opening challenge revisited the speed test from the season premiere, involving whipping egg whites, tournéing potatoes, and juicing lemons. Kevin Lee won this segment and received the Golden Knife, giving him the power to assign proteins and styles for the breakfast round. Kevin selected shellfish for himself, then distributed beef to Sawyer, pork to Stephanie, lamb to Nini, and chicken to Bryan.

He also assigned a “classic” style to the breakfast course. Sawyer executed the beef challenge effectively, using his protein to advance and later earn the Golden Knife for the lunch round. He made a strategic decision to use his best protein — wagyu beef — for the lunch course, stating that he needed to win that round to secure his place in the finals.

The judges rewarded his risk, and he secured the final Golden Knife heading into the last challenge. In the final head-to-head between Sawyer and Bryan Voltaggio, both chefs were allowed to choose their own proteins.

Sawyer selected a rack of lamb, while Bryan opted for Blue Foot chicken. Sawyer’s final dinner dish featured lamb chops with uni and chanterelle mushrooms.

Bryan presented roasted Blue Foot chicken with parsnips and maitake mushrooms. After what was described as an “extremely long deliberation,” the judges named Jonathon Sawyer as the 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing season 2 champion. Runner-up Bryan Voltaggio accepted the loss with grace, stating,

“Not the result I wanted, but again, it's been an amazing experience. I'm not coming back, that's for sure. One and done on this one, one and done.”

This marks the fourth time Voltaggio has finished second in a cooking competition.

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Fans can stream 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing on Food Network GO.

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