Former "Top Chef" winner Paul Qui in Austin was arrested Saturday for assaulting his girlfriend. According to an arrest affidavit, the girlfriend told the officers that he become extremely jealous, accusing his friends flirting with his girlfriend.
Paul Qui, "Top Chef" winner and restaurateur is charged with misdemeanor charges of unlawful restraint and of assault causing injury-family violence, USA Today reported. Qui insisted he is innocent from the said charges.
His girlfriend, as well as his live in partner for eight months accused Qui for assault. The arrest affidavit stated, the former "cheftestant" became enraged and jealous, accusing his friends, who came over for a visit of flirting with his girlfriend. The victim said she Qui and his friends went to their home, while she was asleep with her son.
The KXAN reported, Qui and his friends took drugs and drunk partying in their East Austin apartment. His girlfriend stated on the affidavit arrest, Qui was intoxicated and started to accuse his friends flirting with her and told them to leave the apartment. She said, Qi become violent and "start knocking over furniture and breaking glass." His friends outside, called the police and report that the couple were fighting inside the apartment.
Police arrived, they heard and saw Qui's girlfriend crying, clutching his son. They also noticed the disarranged furniture, broken glass and blood-smeared wall and floor. His girlfriend stated that Qui began throwing her against the wall and doors and claim she barred her from going outside. Qui admitted that he did not let her out because police will see the mess in the apartment. However, he told the police that he was only grabbing and holding his girlfriend, ABC News reported.
Qui posted on bond was released on Saturday. In 2012, Qui won Season 9 of Bravo's show Top Chef. He currently owns and operates Qui restaurant on East Sixth Street. After winning, he moved to Austin in 2003 for culinary school. He also opened Pao by Paul Qui at a hotel in Miami Beach in December, his first restaurant outside of Austin.
