Born on Long Island and raised between the Bronx, Nigeria and Louisiana, Kwame Onwuachi has turned his life experiences into an exceptional culinary career. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, he rose through the ranks in prestigious restaurants before taking part in Top Chef in 2015 as a contestant, then as a juror in 2021. Winner of the James Beard Award, he opened his restaurant Tatiana at Lincoln Center, where he revisits Afro-Caribbean dishes with unrivalled modernity.
Drawing on his experience in fine dining, he campaigns for greater diversity in the restaurant world and more opportunities for people of color. That’s why he created The Family Reunion, an event that aims to nurture, develop and celebrate diversity within the next generation of hospitality professionals.
He is also a member of the steering committee of No Kid Hungry, a movement for which he has cooked at several events, pleaded on Capitol Hill and followed the action in New Orleans schools. “Having access to nutritious food should be a right, not a privilege. I’ve been the child who goes to bed hungry, and that’s far from an ideal situation for anyone.”
