Venezuelan actor and singer Gabriel Coronel was crowned the winner of Telemundo's "Top Chef Estrellas" competition on Sunday, Primera Hora reported.

The 28-year-old's triumph means that his chosen charity, Amigos For Kids -- an organization that helps children in need -- will take home $50,000, the Puerto Rican newspaper added.

The tomato soup, filet mignon and chocolate dessert Coronel prepared in the finale impressed the show's judges more than the chile salad and chicken cutlet with chipotle sauce offered by Mexican television star Judith Grace, his rival, who was hoping to expand on the $20,000 she had already raised for the St. Jude Children's Hospital Foundation, according to Broadway World.

"I didn't have any idea that I would get this far and was more focused on not being among the first (competitors) to be eliminated," Coronel admitted. "I didn't expect this victory, but it was wonderful to see how by combining different ingredients you can make something so delicious. I didn't expect to win because I don't know how to cook – not even rice," the Barquisimeto-born star joked.

During the eight-week "Top Chef Estrellas" competition, Coronel had rarely stood out but instead maintained a steady pace of improvement, Primera Hora judged. But with his final recipe, he "surprised and enchanted" the judges, the newspaper added.

The two finalists were given two hours to prepare their dishes, but before they took to the pans and pots, they had to head to the grocery store to buy the necessary ingredients; Coronel and Grace were both given a $500 budget.

Once in the kitchen, they could count on the help from kitchen assistants of their choice: Coronel picked Pedro Rivera, Kimberly Dos Ramos, Sissi Fleitas and Henry Santos. Meanwhile, Grace put her trust in Gabriela Vergara, Maripily Rivera, Fabián Ríos and Fernando Vargas.

"The weeks were passing, and nothing was happening," Coronel recalled when all was said and done. "All the guys were the first ones to be eliminated, and I was left among the girls. I learned in this competition that when you feel like fighting and growing, you can achieve many things," he added.

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