Brian Patrick Malarkey was born in Bend, Oregon, and grew up on a ranch steeped in cowboy culture. He briefly attended the University of Portland before enrolling at Le Cordon Bleu in Portland to train in classical culinary arts. He then worked at various celebrated restaurants, including Chef Michel Richard’s Citrus in Los Angeles and The Oceanaire. Malakey eventually settled in San Diego, where he built a successful restaurant empire. 

Brian Malarkey gained national television exposure as a finalist on Top Chef Season 3. He later returned to the franchise as a contestant on Top Chef All-Stars Season 17. He served as a winning mentor on ABC’s The Taste alongside Anthony Bourdain, Nigella Lawson, and Ludo Lefebvre. 

Over the years, Malarkey has appeared as a judge and competitor on Guy’s Grocery Games, Chopped, Tournament of Champions, and Wildcard Kitchen on Food Network. Currently, he serves as the host of Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out, which premiered in 2025. In addition to his TV career, he is also a restaurateur who operates the Puffer Malarkey Collective, managing acclaimed dining concepts like Herb & Wood and Animae.