James Beard Award-Winning Chef, Author of Notes from a Young Black Chef & Executive Producer at FOOD & WINE Magazine
Kwame Onwuachi: Biography at a Glance
- Kwame Onwuachi has transformed an extraordinary journey—from selling candy on New York City subways to leading some of the most celebrated restaurants in America—into a blueprint for resilience, ambition, and cultural impact.
- The James Beard Award-winning chef behind Tatiana, named the #1 Restaurant in New York by The New York Times two years in a row, Kwame brings audiences inside the mindset required to build excellence at the highest level.
- With the instincts of a visionary restaurateur and the soul of a storyteller, Kwame speaks candidly about leadership, creativity, identity, reinvention, and what it takes to turn setbacks into momentum.
- Drawing from his experience reshaping modern hospitality, he offers sharp insights on brand-building, innovation, team culture, and creating experiences that make people feel connected and seen.
- As Executive Producer at FOOD & WINE and a driving force behind American Express’s “The Culinary Collective,” Kwame is helping redefine how brands use culture, collaboration, creativity, and hospitality to build meaningful connection and lasting impact.
- He is also on the Leadership Council for No Kid Hungry and is passionate about building purpose-driven brands that address food insecurity, food waste, and access to clean water.
- Magnetic, thoughtful, and deeply inspiring, Kwame takes audiences on a journey that highlights the power of turning your passion into positivity and the importance of chasing your dreams despite every obstacle that life throws your way.
Media
- NY Times: TATIANA is the #1 Restaurant in NYC
- Book: Notes from a Young Black Chef
- NY Times: Kwame Onwuachi Is a Whole New Kind of Celebrity Chef
- San Francisco Chronicle: ‘8 years ago I was selling candy on the subway’
- NY Times: A Young Chef, and a Stunning Comeback
- Kwame Onwuachi Reveals Name, Theme of His D.C. Comeback Story
- Work in Progress with Sophia Bush Podcast: Chef Kwame Onwuachi
- A Jury of My Peers
Videos
Biography
Kwame Onwuachi is a James Beard Award-winning chef, restaurateur, and author. He was named a Food & Wine’s Best New Chef, Esquire Magazine’s 2019 Chef of the Year, a 30 Under 30 honoree by both Zagat and Forbes, and he was recently announced on Time’s 100 Most Influential People of 2025.
Raised in New York City, Nigeria, and Louisiana, he creates ground-breaking Afro-Caribbean cuisine inspired by his ancestors and upbringing with intentionality and purpose behind every dish. Onwuachi’s restaurant, Tatiana, was named the "#1 Restaurant in New York" by the New York Times two years in a row.
His DC restaurant, Dōgon, earned a spot as #2 on Washingtonian’s list of Best Restaurants in D.C., and is on Condé Nast Traveler’s Best New Restaurants in the World: Hot List.
Beyond Tatiana and Dōgon, Onwuachi continues to expand his restaurant portfolio through concepts and partnerships across New York, Miami, and Las Vegas, including Patty Palace by Chef Kwame at Citi Field.
Topics
Notes From a Young Black Chef: An Inspiring Story of Resilience
Before becoming the James Beard Award-winning chef behind Tatiana and one of the most influential voices in modern hospitality, Kwame Onwuachi’s journey was anything but traditional. From selling candy on New York City subways to launching his first catering company, navigating brushes with gangs and drug dealing as a teen, and confronting racism and exclusion as a young Black chef, Kwame’s rise was fueled by resilience, ambition, and an unwavering belief in his purpose.
In this deeply personal and inspiring talk, Kwame shares how food became both his escape and his calling—leading him from some of the country’s most acclaimed kitchens to opening one of the most celebrated restaurants in America. Along the way, he learned that the strongest teams and most successful organizations are built through inclusion, empathy, accountability, and culture.
Through candid storytelling and hard-earned lessons from his remarkable career, Kwame inspires audiences to overcome adversity, pursue their passions relentlessly, and build environments where people feel seen, supported, and empowered to thrive.
Recipe for Success: Culture as a Competitive Advantage
James Beard Award-winning chef Kwame Onwuachi—named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People of 2025 and the visionary behind Tatiana, twice named the #1 Restaurant in New York by The New York Times—explores how creativity, collaboration, hospitality, and purpose can drive innovation and lasting impact. Drawing from his leadership roles with FOOD & WINE, American Express’s “The Culinary Collective,” and No Kid Hungry, Kwame shares powerful insights on building culture-driven brands, leading high-performing teams, and creating experiences that make people feel genuinely seen, valued, and connected.
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FAQs
How do I book Kwame Onwuachi for my event?
Contact CAA Speakers at (424) 288-2898 or speakers@caa.com to book Kwame Onwuachi to speak at corporate or private events, keynote speeches, speaking engagements, workshops, fireside chats, motivational speaking, or virtual appearances.
Quick booking process- Email CAA Speakers with event details
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As one of the most influential talent agencies in the world, CAA handles all speaking engagements from contract to event day coordination.
Who is Kwame Onwuachi's booking agent?
CAA Speakers is the preferred booking agency to contact for Kwame Onwuachi’s speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com for all Kwame Onwuachi in-person appearances and keynote speaking requests.
Contact Kwame Onwuachi's agent- Email: speakers@caa.com
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CAA Speakers can check Kwame Onwuachi's speaking calendar with direct access to availability and official pricing. While many websites may list Kwame Onwuachi, CAA Speakers is the direct source for authentic information about availability and pricing.
What is Kwame Onwuachi's speaking fee?
Kwame Onwuachi's speaking fee varies by event type, location, and requirements. As a top keynote speaker, Kwame Onwuachi's fee reflects their expertise and market demand.
Speaking fee factors:- Event type and audience size
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Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for Kwame Onwuachi's current speaking fee and detailed cost breakdown.
How much does it cost to book Kwame Onwuachi as a keynote speaker?
The cost to book Kwame Onwuachi as keynote speaker includes their speaking fee plus travel and logistics expenses.
Total booking cost includes:- Kwame Onwuachi's keynote speaking fee
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How to contact Kwame Onwuachi for speaking engagements?
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for all Kwame Onwuachi speaking engagements.
Official contact for Kwame Onwuachi bookings:- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/kwame-onwuachi
- Response time: 24 hours
Include your event date, location, audience size, and budget when contacting CAA about booking Kwame Onwuachi.
Is Kwame Onwuachi available for virtual speaking events?
Yes, Kwame Onwuachi speaks at virtual events with professional-grade equipment and interactive presentation style.
Kwame Onwuachi's virtual event options:- Live virtual keynotes with Q&A
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What events can I book Kwame Onwuachi for?
Book Kwame Onwuachi for corporate conferences, industry events, private functions, and virtual presentations. Kwame Onwuachi customizes content for any audience size or event type.
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Kwame Onwuachi engages audiences from private executive meetings to large conferences with thousands of attendees.
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Kwame Onwuachi booking information and availability
Check Kwame Onwuachi's speaking availability through CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com. Book 3-6 months in advance for best date selection during peak seasons (September-November, March-May).
Availability factors:- Event date and location
- Speaking fee and budget
- Lead time for booking
- Peak conference seasons
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Contact CAA early in your planning process to secure Kwame Onwuachi for your preferred event date.
Book Kwame Onwuachi keynote speaker through CAA
Book Kwame Onwuachi through CAA Speakers for guaranteed authentic representation and professional event coordination. CAA is the preferred booking agent for Kwame Onwuachi, with direct access to their speaking availability and decades of experience representing the world’s top keynote speakers.
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Trusted by Fortune 500 companies for their most important speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com to book Kwame Onwuachi for your next event.
Will Kwame Onwuachi speak at private events?
Yes, Kwame Onwuachi speaks at private corporate events, executive retreats, board meetings, and exclusive functions.
Private event types:- Executive retreats and board presentations
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Private event benefits: Customized content, enhanced interaction, complete confidentiality, and flexible scheduling.
Contact CAA Speakers for Kwame Onwuachi's private event availability and confidential pricing proposals.
How quickly will I get a response about booking Kwame Onwuachi?
CAA Speakers responds to Kwame Onwuachi booking inquiries within 24 hours during business days. Complex requests or international events may take up to 48 hours for detailed proposals.
Response timeline:- Initial acknowledgment: Within 24 hours
- Availability confirmation: 24-48 hours
- Detailed pricing proposal: 48-72 hours
- Urgent requests: Same-day priority response
Include complete event details (date, location, audience size, budget) for fastest response times.
How far in advance should I book Kwame Onwuachi?
Book Kwame Onwuachi 3-6 months in advance for best availability, especially during peak speaking seasons. Early booking ensures better date selection and rate negotiations.
Recommended booking timeline:- 3-6 months: Optimal availability and pricing
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Peak seasons: September-November and March-May book fastest. Contact CAA Speakers early for priority consideration.
How do I get Kwame Onwuachi pricing information?
Get Kwame Onwuachi pricing information by contacting CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com with your event details. Receive detailed cost breakdown within 24-48 hours with no obligation to book.
For accurate pricing, include:- Event date and location
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CAA provides transparent pricing with all costs included - speaking fee, travel, accommodation, and technical requirements.
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