Chef Adrienne Cheatham

Title: Chef

Location: Harlem, New York

Chef Adrienne Cheatham grew up in the kitchens and dining rooms of the restaurants her mother managed in Chicago when she was a child. But at her parents' insistence, Adrienne attended Florida A&M University where she studied business and journalism before pursuing her culinary career.

Experience

Even during college, she was busy catering events (between classes and dance rehearsal), then after graduation worked in kitchens in Orlando on up to the Gulf of Mexico. Adrienne then moved to New York City, working for chefs across the city while attending the Institute of Culinary Education. Upon graduation, she was offered a job at Le Bernardin where she remained for eight years moving up the ranks to become Executive Sous Chef. After helping open the Aldo Sohm Wine Bar and Privé, Adrienne left to join chef Marcus Samuelsson as Corporate Chef de Cuisine, helping open Streetbird (receiving a Bib Gourmand from the Michelin Guide as opening chef) and Marcus' Bermuda before becoming the Executive Chef of Red Rooster, Harlem.

With her journalism background, Adrienne was tapped to test and edit recipes for chef Eric Ripert's cookbook and PBS show, Avec Eric, as well as test and cook/style the dishes for The Red Rooster Cookbook. After leaving Red Rooster, Adrienne competed on season 15 of Bravo's Top Chef, making it to the finale and finishing second.

She has since launched SundayBest, a pop-up dinner series held in various locations while working on a cookbook and other projects.

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