Brian Malarkey is a celebrity chef, restaurateur, and television personality from Bend, Oregon. He gained fame as a Top Chef finalist and has created more than 15 successful restaurant concepts across the United States. The Food Network star serves as the host of Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out and co-hosts the Harley Malarkey Podcast with his girlfriend, Danielle Harley.
Brian Malarkey Wikipedia
| Field | Details |
| Full name | Brian Huntington Malarkey |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of birth | September 26, 1972 |
| Age | 53 years old (as of December 2025) |
| Place of birth | Bend, Oregon, USA |
| Current residence | San Diego, California, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Zodiac sign | Libra |
| Religion | Unknown |
| Sexual orientation | Straight |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) |
| Weight | Approximately 180 lbs (82 kg) |
| Hair colour | Blonde |
| Eye colour | Blue |
| Marital status | Divorced |
| Spouse | Chantelle Hartman Malarkey (divorced 2021) |
| Children | 3 (Hunter, Sailor, Miles) |
| Alma mater | Western Culinary Institute’s Le Cordon Bleu, Portland |
| Profession | Chef, restaurateur, television personality |
| Net worth | $10-20 million (estimated) |
Who is Brian Malarkey?
Brian Malarkey is one of America’s most accomplished chefs and restaurateurs. He created his restaurant empire from scratch and has appeared on multiple Food Network shows. The Oregon native grew up on a horse ranch and learned to cook in his grandmother’s beach house kitchen, where legendary chef James Beard was a frequent visitor.
Malarkey gained national recognition after competing on Bravo’s Top Chef Season 3 in Miami, where he finished as a finalist. He returned to the show for Top Chef All-Stars Season 17 in Los Angeles. His television appearances have made him a household name among food enthusiasts.
How old is Brian Malarkey? Age and birthday
Brian Malarkey is 53 years old as of December 2025. He was born on September 26, 1972, in Bend, Oregon. His zodiac sign is Libra. The chef celebrated his birthday in September and continues to work actively in the culinary industry.
What is Brian Malarkey’s net worth?
As of 2025, Brian Malarkey’s net worth is estimated between $10 million and $20 million. He built his fortune through his successful restaurant ventures, television appearances, and business partnerships. His restaurant portfolio generates over $35 million in annual revenue.
Malarkey earns money from multiple sources. He owns stakes in several high-profile restaurants in San Diego and Orange County. His television work includes hosting Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out on Food Network and appearing as a judge on Guy’s Grocery Games. He also founded Chefs Life, a line of premium cooking oils that sell nationwide.
The chef sold his original restaurant group to Hakkasan Group in 2014, which included the Searsucker and Herringbone concepts. This business deal added millions to his wealth. His current restaurant partnership, Puffer Malarkey Collective, operates four acclaimed restaurants in Southern California.
Brian Malarkey’s career
Early career
Brian Malarkey grew up in Bend, Oregon, on his family’s P-B Hawkeye Ranch. He spent summers in his grandmother’s beach house kitchen, where she cooked alongside her friend James Beard, the legendary American chef. After graduating from Redmond High School, Malarkey enrolled at Western Culinary Institute’s Le Cordon Bleu cooking school in Portland, Oregon.
Following culinary school, Malarkey worked with Chef Michael Richard at Citrus in Los Angeles. He moved to Minneapolis and joined The Oceanaire Seafood Room as sous chef in 2001. He quickly rose to executive chef and partner, helping open the company’s San Diego location.
Restaurant empire
Malarkey has created more than 15 restaurant concepts throughout his career. He co-founded the Searsucker and Herringbone restaurant brands with business partner James Brennan. The restaurants expanded to multiple cities across the United States. In 2014, they sold a majority stake to Hakkasan Group.
The chef founded Puffer Malarkey Collective (PMC) with partner Christopher Puffer. PMC operates four restaurants in Southern California: Herb & Wood and Herb & Sea in San Diego’s Little Italy, ANIMAE steakhouse in downtown San Diego, and Herb & Ranch in Orange County. Herb & Wood earned recognition from USA Today as one of America’s 10 best restaurants.
In 2024, Malarkey returned to his Oregon roots and opened Hawkeye & Huckleberry Lounge in Bend with his brother James. The restaurant celebrates their Central Oregon ranching heritage.
Television career
Malarkey appeared on Bravo’s Top Chef Season 3 in Miami in 2007, finishing as a finalist. He competed on ABC’s The Taste alongside Anthony Bourdain, Nigella Lawson, and Ludo Lefebvre. He served as a mentor on the show and guided his team to victory in Season 1.
He returned to Top Chef for Season 17: All-Stars Los Angeles in 2020. Malarkey has appeared as a judge on Food Network’s Guy’s Grocery Games, Chopped, and Tournament of Champions. He competed on Wildcard Kitchen and other culinary competition shows.
In May 2025, Food Network announced Malarkey as the new host of Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out. The show, originally hosted by Alton Brown, features chefs competing while sabotaging their opponents. The series premiered on May 13, 2025, and streams on Max and Discovery+.
Other ventures
Malarkey founded Chefs Life, a line of premium cooking oils designed for home cooks. The brand features custom blends of avocado, olive, sunflower, and grapeseed oils. He created the company during the COVID-19 pandemic after teaching over 100 virtual cooking classes.
He co-hosts the Harley Malarkey Podcast: Old Dog, New Tricks with his girlfriend Danielle Harley. The podcast explores relationships, lifestyle topics, and personal growth from Gen X and Millennial perspectives.
Is Brian Malarkey married? Wife, Dating history, and relationship status
Brian Malarkey is not married as of December 2025. He is in a relationship with Danielle Harley, who is 18 years younger than him. The couple went Instagram official in March 2023 and co-host a podcast together.
Marriage to Chantelle Hartman Malarkey
Malarkey was married to Chantelle Hartman Malarkey for nearly two decades. The couple wed in September 2003. Chantelle is a photographer, designer, and influencer from Minnesota. She supported Brian’s restaurant ventures while raising their family in San Diego.
Brian filed for divorce in July 2021. The divorce case involved their three minor children and took several years to finalize. The former couple attempted to keep the separation amicable for their children’s sake.
Relationship with Danielle Harley
Brian started dating Danielle Harley while his divorce was still pending. He made the relationship public on Instagram in March 2023. Danielle, born in November 1990, is 35 years old as of 2025. The couple has been open about their age gap relationship on their podcast.
Harley and Malarkey launched the Harley Malarkey Podcast: Old Dog, New Tricks together. They discuss relationship dynamics, lifestyle topics, and navigating their age difference. The podcast has gained a following for its honest conversations about modern relationships.
Brian Malarkey’s children
Brian Malarkey has three children from his marriage to Chantelle: Hunter, Sailor Elizabeth, and Miles. Hunter is the oldest child, born in 2008, and turned 17 years old in September 2025. Sailor and Miles are twins, born in 2012, making them 13 years old as of 2025.
The chef shares custody of his children with his ex-wife. He frequently mentions his kids on social media and describes them as teenagers. Malarkey splits his time between San Diego and Bend, Oregon, balancing his restaurant businesses with family life.
Brian Malarkey’s height and weight
Brian Malarkey stands 6 feet 2 inches tall (188 centimeters). He weighs approximately 180 pounds (82 kilograms). The chef has blonde hair and blue eyes. His physical presence matches his energetic personality on television shows.
Fast facts about Brian Malarkey
- Brian’s grandmother was friends with James Beard, the legendary American chef who helped shape American cuisine.
- He attended Redmond High School in Oregon before pursuing culinary training.
- Malarkey’s nickname is “Shenanigans” because of his playful personality on television shows.
- His restaurant Herb & Wood was named one of America’s 10 best restaurants by USA Today.
- He sold his first restaurant group, which included Searsucker and Herringbone, to Hakkasan Group for millions of dollars.
- Malarkey co-owns the P-B Hawkeye Ranch in Central Oregon with his family.
- He taught over 100 virtual cooking classes during the COVID-19 pandemic, which inspired his Chefs Life cooking oil brand.
- The chef experienced a frightening medical emergency in November 2025 while traveling abroad, which he discussed on his podcast.
- His brother James Malarkey is his business partner in the Hawkeye & Huckleberry Lounge restaurant in Bend.
- Malarkey has appeared on more than 15 different Food Network shows throughout his television career.
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Wrapping up
Brian Malarkey has built a remarkable career as a chef, restaurateur, and television personality. The 53-year-old Oregon native created a multimillion-dollar restaurant empire and became a Food Network favorite. He balances his time between managing restaurants in California and Oregon, hosting Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out, and co-hosting a podcast with his girlfriend Danielle Harley. The father of three continues to expand his culinary influence through his Chefs Life product line and new restaurant ventures.
References
- Food Network. “Brian Malarkey Bio.”
- IMDb. “Brian Malarkey – Biography.”
- Parade. “Food Network’s Brian Malarkey Talks ‘Age Gap’ With Girlfriend.”
- Eater San Diego. “Acclaimed Chef Brian Malarkey Opens Hawkeye & Huckleberry Lounge.”
- San Diego Tourism Authority. “Chef Brian Malarkey Interview.”
- Chefs Life. “About Chef Brian Malarkey.”
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