June 13, 2025
Epps was acknowledged for his daring Afro-Caribbean delicacies that paid tribute to his roots and culinary mission.
Houston’s very personal Tristen Epps has received Season 22 of Bravo’s High Chef, taking house $250,000—the most important prize within the present’s historical past.
The win capped off a season during which Epps persistently impressed the judges with ingenious, Afro-Caribbean-inspired delicacies that mirrored his heritage and culinary id.
Competing towards finalists Bailey Sullivan of Chicago and Shuai Wang of North Charleston, Epps secured the win with a four-course progressive meal that showcased each Ethiopian and Trinidadian influences. For his sous chef, Epps chosen Zubair Mohajir, a beforehand eradicated High Chef contestant.
His successful menu featured monkfish with baccala mbongo, pollo dorengo with injera shrimp toast, oxtail Milanese crepinette, and a root vegetable cake with charred plantain cream.
Whereas most dishes acquired reward throughout the board, Epps’ dessert sparked debate over whether or not it was the fitting selection to complete the course or if it was inventive and daring.
Regardless of the High Chef judges’ cut up, Epps received.
In an emotional acceptance speech, he paid tribute to the cooks who paved the way in which in Afro-Caribbean delicacies and honored his stepfather, who died throughout the season.
“It means a lot to me that the delicacies will get acknowledged, the folks get acknowledged,” Epps stated within the finale, per the Houston Chronicle. “I didn’t do it for me, I did it for thus many individuals. My mission has been to extend the worth of Black meals the world over.”
Together with the money prize, Epps was awarded Delta SkyMiles Diamond Medallion Standing, $125,000 in Delta journey credit score, a characteristic in Meals & Wine journal, and a dinner on the James Beard Home.
The High Chef winner can even current on the James Beard Basis Awards and seem on the annual Meals & Wine Traditional in Aspen. Epps, who returned to Houston after a decade of pursuing his goals, has returned to his hometown.
He’s at present making ready to open his superb eating restaurant known as Buboy, which is able to spotlight “neo-Afro-Caribbean” flavors.
Epps beforehand served as govt chef at Marcus Samuelsson’s Pink Rooster in Miami, which earned a Michelin star beneath his management.
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