Ha took home a $250,000 cash prize and cook book deal.

For the final challenge, the contestants prepared three courses. Ha was praised for the balanced meal she prepared which included braised pork, maitake mushrooms, Thai papaya salad, and coconut lime sorbet. (Marks' undercooked lobster may have cost him the title.)

"My first reaction when I won was just utter shock," Ha told TV Guide. "I just could not believe it. I was shocked for probably 48 hours. I didn't realize how much I wanted it and how much it was attainable."

While she is a master chef now, Ha admits she used to be an awful cook.

"I didn't even know how to steam rice in a rice cooker." She added, "I was a disgrace to many Vietnamese mothers I'm sure ... I only knew how to make scrambled eggs and toast and instant ramen."