Onwuachi, Kwame
1989- · Contribution: 2016-
Chef & Author
Opened five restaurants before turning thirty, including Washington D.C.'s acclaimed Kith/Kin; won the James Beard Foundation's Rising Star Chef of the Year award in 2019; his memoir 'Notes from a Young Black Chef' was named one of Time's essential books and is being adapted into a feature film

Portraits are AI-generated interpretations, not photographs.
Quick facts
- Born
- 1989
- Active since
- 2016
- Category
- Agriculture & Food
- Best known for
- Tatiana at Lincoln CenterJames Beard Rising StarNotes from a Young Black Chef
Impact on the world
Onwuachi channeled a turbulent path from the Bronx through Nigeria into some of the most celebrated cooking in America. His Afro-Caribbean menus brought his heritage to the center of fine dining.
Sources
- Penguin Random House Speakers Bureau
2 more sources and references are available to members.
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Smalls, Alexander
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