5 Questions: ‘Top Chef’ contestant Brian Huskey of Paiche

Brian Huskey will be L.A.’s lone hopeful when the new season of Bravo’s “Top Chef� premieres on Wednesday. The Pasadena native, who started his career at the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, decided to take a culinary journey around the world after he finished his training. During his travels, he learned to incorporate Asian, French and Peruvian influences into his food. He eventually returned to L.A. and landed a job with Ricardo Zarate. Huskey helped Zarate open Picca and Mo-Chica and currently works as a saucier at Paiche. If Huskey wins Season 11 of the cooking competition show, he’ll be the first L.A. chef to win since Michael Voltaggio in Season 6.

Latest ingredient obsession?

My latest ingredient obsession is white soy sauce.

What restaurant do you find yourself going to again and again?

Sushi Gen for the sashimi lunch special and Yogurtland for all the fruit-flavored yogurts topped with fruity pebbles and gummy bears.

The last cookbook you read, and what inspired you to pick it up?

The last cookbook i read was “I Love NY: Ingredients and Recipes� by Daniel Humm and Will Guidara. It was gifted to me by good friend Michael Cirino.

What’s your favorite breakfast?

My favorite breakfast is sausage eggs Benedict on a biscuit with extra hollandaise sauce and tater tots.

Your favorite day off away from the kitchen is ...

Spending the day with my girlfriend, Shannon Loera. Starting with sleeping in a little, a bloody mary, then enjoying L.A. (a sporting event, concert, museum, new places to eat, the beach) and ending by cooking together and watching a movie. Simple pleasures.

Paiche, 13488 Maxella Ave., Marina del Rey, (310) 893-6100

[email protected]