Notes from a Young Black Chef
by Kwame Onwuachi
Mentioned once across 1 show · first heard Apr 2026 on Mick Unplugged.
The general take
Mick Hunt was inspired by the memoir, appreciating how it captures both the culinary journey and the entrepreneurial spirit throughout. He sees the book as valuable for aspiring chefs looking to understand that broader entrepreneurial mindset.
About
A memoir from “the most important chef in America” ( San Francisco Chronicle ) and chef of Tatiana, the New York Times #1 Restaurant in New York City 2023. “Kwame Onwuachi’s story shines a light on food and culture not just in American restaurants or African American communities but around the world.” —Questlove By the time he was twenty-seven years old, Kwame Onwuachi had opened—and closed—one of the most talked about restaurants in America. He had sold drugs in New York and been shipped off to rural Nigeria to “learn respect.” He had launched his own catering company with twenty thousand dollars made from selling candy on the subway and starred on Top Chef . Through it all, Onwuachi’s love of food and cooking remained a constant, even when, as a young chef, he was forced to grapple with just how unwelcoming the food world can be for people of color.
Who said what
Mick Hunt👍 Recommends
…memoir about overcoming obstacles and defining moments as an entrepreneur
“You know, I got to see a lot of that journey that you had in your memoir, right? Notes from a young black chef. And one of the things that I truly was inspired by that book was that you talk about a lot of things and I see your entrepreneur spirit all throughout that book too, right? You're talking about the journey. You're obviously aspiring chefs, right? But I also think there's a big part that's just like all entrepreneurs, no matter what you're doing, you need to hear this story or you need to understand how you don't give up on visions and dreams and how obstacles are going to happen.”
Mick Unplugged — Taste of Success: Intentional Living from Kwame Onwuachiat 07:01
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