Keane wins latest 'Top Chef Masters'

[caption id="attachment_80424" align="alignright" width="209"] Douglas Keane[/caption]

HEALDSBURG -- Douglas Keane, a chef known nationally for innovative cuisine in Healdsburg, in an episode aired Wednesday won the season 5 challenge in Bravo cable television network's Top Chef Masters series, winning $100,000 for a Windsor dog-rescue charity he started.

Chef Keane came to prominence at Cyrus, a Michelin two-star restaurant looking for a new home since late last year. He now runs Healdsburg Bar & Grill, plans to open DK Wings at Graton Resort & Casino in Rohnert Park this fall and is working on his first book, part memoir and cookbook.

He and sous chef Paul Winberry Jr. topped this season's competition, which started with 13 chefs. The winnings go to Green Dog Rescue Project, which Mr. Keane, a certified dog trainer, started.

In addition to winning the competition, Chef Keane won two "quick-fire challenges." In one challenge, he created 30-minute nachos, with shrimp, powdered nacho chips, cheese, beans and salsa consomme. He also won two elimination challenges. These victories earned Green Dog Rescue Project an extra $20,000.

Cyrus operated from 2003 until it closed late last year over a lease dispute. It earned two Michelin stars for seven consecutive years, along with four stars from the San Francisco Chronicle. Cyrus was named one of Gourmet magazine’s “50 Best Restaurants in America.”  Chef Keane was named Chef of the Year by Esquire magazine and among Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs, also earning the prestigious James Beard Award for Best Chef: Pacific.

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