Marcel Vigneron

Marcel Vigneron (born May 3, 1980) is an American chef best known as the runner-up of the second season of Top Chef, which aired 2006–2007, placing behind Ilan Hall. In 2011, he had his own television program on Syfy, Marcel's Quantum Kitchen, in which he started and ran a molecular gastronomy catering company; it was cancelled after 6 episodes. He later competed on Top Chef: All-Stars in 2011, and on The Food Network's The Next Iron Chef in 2012.

Vigneron is originally from Bainbridge Island, Washington.

Vigneron attended the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in New York and achieved his associate degree in Culinary Arts. There, Vigneron met fellow chef Spike Mendelsohn. The two played a lot of frisbee together and became best friends; they would later compete together on the 5th season of The Next Iron Chef. At the CIA Vigneron enrolled in the teaching assistant program, where he served as the sous chef to Dwayne Lipuma at the school’s Ristorante Caterina de’ Medici.

Vigneron appeared in season two of Bravo’s reality series Top Chef, which was filmed in 2006, and aired during late 2006 and early 2007. At the time of his appearance on Top Chef, he was a Master Cook at Joël Robuchon in Las Vegas, Nevada.

On the show, he became known for his molecular gastronomy techniques, especially his use of foams. He also notably clashed with many of the show's other contestants, culminating in an incident in which several of the show's contestants egged on contestant Cliff Crooks to pin down Vigneron and shave his head. This led to Cliff being kicked off the show.