Meet the Cast of 'Top Chef' Season 5

Richard Sweeney is one of the contestants of the fifth season of the Bravo reality show Top Chef. The 27-year-old Long Island native grew up in food service, as his parents worked in differing capacities for several restaurants. He eventually moved to San Diego, California, where he took training at the San Diego Culinary Institute. He is currently the executive sous chef at the Confidential Restaurant and Loft, where he experiments with his plating as much as with his recipes.