Kwame Onwuachi (Photo: Kevin Carroll)
You might have first heard about Kwame Onwuachi from his stint on TV’s Top Chef Season 13, but you’ll soon be hearing more from the 26-year-old rising culinary star. Much anticipation surrounds Onwuachi’s inaugural entry this fall into D.C.’s hot, competitive restaurant scene. The Shaw Bijou is a high-concept, limited-seating restaurant with an unusual menu inspired by Onwuachi’s equally unusual life experiences: growing up in the Bronx and finding a love for food while assisting with his mom’s catering business; learning a new appreciation for food living in Nigeria with his grandfather; cooking for the Gulf Coast oil-spill crews, selling candy on New York City subways to finance his catering business, attending the Culinary Institute of America, and traveling the world.
In conversation with Jessica Sidman, food editor at Washingtonian, Onwuachi talks about his experiences competing on Top Chef, why he chose to open his first restaurant in D.C., and his hopes for his ambitious new enterprise. Get a sneak peek of The Shaw Bijou’s menu and enjoy a tasting following the program.
