CHEF

ERIC

ADJEPONG

“I believe that we all come from divine placement, and when you’re able to weave your whole history and heritage into your craft, that’s where the magic happens, that’s how you set yourself apart in a crowded field. The mother sauce is made when you stir your culture into your craft.”

The Anatomy of a Dream

Chef Adjepong’s career has thus far been a study in bravery. From ushering West African flavors into the mainstream culinary conversation a la Top Chef to hosting the 2023 James Beard Awards, Eric’s rise to stardom is defined by a series of bold moves and a steadfast sense of self. For a New York City kid with roots criss crossing the Atlantic, finding a way to honor the past while building his future has been part and parcel to his success. Now, with multiple shows on Food Network, a beautiful collection at one of the country’s top retailers, two published books, and a restaurant in the works ⸺ Eric is a multi-hyphenate, culture-focused chef with a vision, a mission, and a story to tell.

Chef on Screen

  • From hosting Alex vs America and Wildcard Kitchen to judging and competing on flagship programming like Tournament of Champions, Eric is emulating the trajectory of the biggest names on Food Network.

    FOOD NETWORK

  • Featured on Hulu’s Initiative 29 project, Eric takes center stage in nine minutes of powerful footage captured in West Africa. As a first gen Ghanaian-American, Eric explains how food and flavor fuse together his family history.

    HULU

  • A soul food competition with the supportive, wholesome feeling of The Great British Bake Off, Eric judged the series alongside fellow industry giants like Alexander Smalls and Melba Wilson.

    OWN

Tableware Architect

For three years, Chef Eric dreamt up, finessed, and refined a kitchen and dinnerware collection with the extraordinary team at Crate & Barrel. The result? A line rich in character, color, history, and heritage.

Cultural Pioneer

Storyteller in Print

"Based on his own experiences as a first-generation Ghanaian American growing up in New York City, chef and author Adjepong’s debut picture book beautifully captures Kofi’s complicated feelings of in-betweenness, seeing himself as not quite American enough and not quite Ghanaian enough, even as he tries to connect to his family’s history. A recipe for jollof rice, the dish Kofi proudly shares with his class, is included at the end."

—BCCB, starred review

Advocacy

Before there was Top Chef, there was a passionate cook with a degree in Culinary Arts & Nutrition from Johnson & Wales, and a Masters of Public Health in International Public Health & Nutrition from the University of Westminster in London. The seriousness with which Eric approaches food accessibility and public health has made him an exceptional ambassador for Save the Children, Crayola, and more.

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