Notes from a Young Black Chef

Onwuachi describes his experiences as a contestant on the reality television show Top Chef. He had been scouted for the show for a prior season, but he declined when the producer admitted that the viewing audience was not ready for a Black chef who focused on fine dining. She suggested that most American viewers wanted Black chefs who cooked Southern dishes. This time, however, Onwuachi was determined to be authentic. Believing the exposure would be good press for Shaw Bijou, his new Washington, DC, restaurant, Onwuachi made it to the final six before being eliminated. He recognized that there was some stigma attached to the idea of competing on a reality show, but the opportunity to build his brand outweighed the negative perceptions.

Before he left for the competition, one of Onwuachi’s business partners gave him a generous sum of money to buy knives and clothes for the show. The show presented another opportunity for Onwuachi to consider the many versions of the self that he presented to the world. When he let his guard down, the mask slipped, and he was not always pleased with what was presented on television.