Who is Kwame Onwuachi? 'Top Chef Amateurs' judge was expelled from school and college
For 24 amateurs cooks, a dream of a lifetime is about to come to reality as they enter the 'Top Chef' kitchen on the all-new series, 'Top Chef Amateurs'. Bravo's latest cooking show will see these chefs taking on some classic challenges, with a bit of help from the show's alumni, who will be cooking alongside them, providing them with the support they need.
The show will be hosted by longtime Top Chef judge Gail Simmons. Each amateur will be paired with a Top Chef All Star, who will help them bring their dishes to life. The finalists, frontrunners and fan favorites appearing this season include Eric Adjepong, Richard Blais, Jennifer Carroll, Shirley Chung, Stephanie Cmar, Tiffany Derry, Joe Flamm, Gregory Gourdet, Melissa King, Kwame Onwuachi, Dale Talde, and Isaac Toups. The All-Stars will also rotate as judges, alongside Gail, in each episode. In this story, we look at one of the All Stars, Kwame Onwuachi, and his journey in the culinary world. And if you're looking for other culinary shows to check out, you might want to consider 'MasterChef Legends', 'The Chef Show', 'Chopped Junior' and 'BBQ Brawl'.
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Who is Kwame Onwuachi?
Onwuachi was born in Long Island, New York, and grew up in The Bronx. He even spent a few years in Nigeria at the age of 10, where he lived with his grandfather. As a child, Onwuachi was expelled from several schools due to behavioral issues. After his graduation, he attended the University of Bridgeport, but was later expelled for peddling drugs. Onwuachi always had a passion for food. While talking to Food & Wine, the chef recalled a recipe he made from the magazine, which helped him recognize his passion for cooking.
"It was a shrimp and chicken dish," Onwuachi recalled. "I think it had hoisin, curry powder, garlic, ginger. And I remember saying the recipe didn't make sense to start with macaroni. I wanted it saucy with steamed rice, so I made the dish a little bit more saucy and put it over rice. At that moment, I was like, "Oh, maybe I can cook." And my mom was like, "This is not normal. I would have just made this recipe out of Food & Wine perfectly, but you took it upon yourself to switch it up a little bit and put your gourmet touch on it," he explained.
"At that point, I grew an affinity for cooking. My mom had this catering company, but that was the first time I was like, "Let me cook outside of this chore, let me do this on my own." And also let me put my spin on it, let me make it a little more spicy. Let me add the house Creole spice that she uses to make this dish. It just started growing from there." he added.
He's had an interesting path to success
After being expelled from college, Onwuachi began living with his mother and was hired as a cook on a boat serving crews cleaning up the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. He returned to New York City and waited for Tom Colicchio's Craft. He then opened his own business, Onwuachi's Coterie Catering. Onwuachi enrolled at The Culinary Institute of America New York and worked at Per Se during this time. After graduation, he worked as a line cook at Eleven Madison Park. Post his 'Top Chef' Season 13 appearance, he opened his own restaurant in Washington, DC, called the Shaw Bijou.
He later went on to open a new restaurant in InterContinental Hotel in DC called 'Kith and Kin'. The restaurant serves Afro-Caribbean cuisine, along with influences from Louisiana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Nigeria.
He has many awards to his name
Onwuachi was named among Food & Wine magazine Best New Chefs in 2019. That same year, he was named Rising Star Chef of the Year at the James Beard Awards. Esquire also named Onwuachi its Chef of the Year for 2019, and Kith/Kin was as named one of the Best New Restaurants in America. In 2017, he was named as the Forbes 30 Under 30 Food & Drink honoree.
On 'Top Chef Amateurs', Chef Kwame Onwuachi makes a comeback as part of the 'Top Chef' alum to help the amateur cooks as they race against the clock while tackling challenges.
Catch Bravo's 'Top Chef Amatuers' on July 1, 2021 at 9/8c.