Are There Any African American Michelin Star Chefs?

The Michelin Star is one of the most prestigious awards that can be bestowed upon a restaurant and its chef. It is an internationally recognized symbol of culinary excellence, and chefs who receive it are highly regarded in the industry. But despite the growing diversity of the culinary world, African American chefs are often overlooked when it comes to Michelin recognition.

But recently, there has been a shift in this trend with more African American chefs being acknowledged for their work in the culinary sphere.

In 2016, Chef Michael Solomonov became the first African American chef to receive a Michelin star for his restaurant Zahav in Philadelphia. He was later joined by Chef Mashama Bailey, who received a star for her Savannah-based eatery The Grey in 2017. Both chefs have gone on to receive multiple stars for their respective restaurants and have become shining examples of black excellence in fine dining.

In addition to Solomonov and Bailey, other African American chefs have been recognized with Michelin stars over the years, such as Tunde Wey at his New Orleans-based restaurant Saartj and Kwame Onwuachi at Kith/Kin in Washington D.C. Though these chefs are making waves in their respective cities and beyond, there is still work to be done when it comes to recognizing African American talent at a high level.

Conclusion:

Overall, while there are still some obstacles when it comes to promoting African American talent within fine dining establishments, more and more African American chefs are starting to receive Michelin stars for their work. With continued support from both the industry and consumers alike, we can look forward to even more recognition for these talented individuals in the future.