Chef Kwame Onwuachi from New York City-Var’s cooking has praised luxury for its skilled mix of Nigerian, Creole and Afro-Caribbean, plus more than a dash of his Bronx-childhood-re-re-re-re-re-, where he was among the Marquee panelists at the world’s 50 best restaurants.
James Beard-award-winning chef, owner of Tatiana in Manhattan and Dōgar in Washington, DC, will open a restaurant in the Sahara Las Vegas space which is now occupied by Bazaar Meat, from the famous chef José Andrés. After more than a decade of meat meets low, the base meat will be closed after the service on June 30 before its move to Venetian.
Cooking as personal history
On the one hand, the arrival of Onwuachi is a kind of meaningful, a star in a new generation of chefs that replace one of the most promised chefs in the world. On the other hand, Onwuachi’s restaurant – name and food that will still be revealed – give rise to some fair questions.
His cooking at Tatiana and Dōgon is deeply responsible for the cultural moment and deeply personal, which reflects his ethnic heritage, his growing up in New York City and his experience as a black chef. Will that method play on the strip, where cooking can be exciting but is usually not so directly personal?
Or will the chef take its attitude and mix it with a spin of Vegas for the new concept? For his part, Onwuachi said in a statement on Thursday that he was looking forward to setting up a store west.
“I am excited for this next chapter and the opportunity to bring a new culinary concept to Sahara Las Vegas and the city’s dynamic food scene,” he said.
Awards in abundance
In addition to his beard win, Onwuachi is the author of the critically viewed cookbook “My America” and the memoirs “Notes from a young black chef”, which is made into a movie. Onwuachi has been recognized as one of Food & Wine Magazine’s best new chefs, as Esquire Magazine’s chef for the year for 2019, and as a 30 under 30 Honoree by Zagat and Forbes.
He first appeared on “Top boss” as a season 13 competition; For season 18 he was a judge. He also hosted 2021 and 2022 James Beard Restaurant and manager Awards in Chicago. He is currently the executive producer for Food & Wine. Visit Saharalasvegas.com/newrestaurant-by-fyrkwameonwuachi.
Contact Johnathan L. Wright at jwright@ theplayerlounge.com. Follow @jlwtaste on Instagram.
