Eric Adjepong | |
|---|---|
| Born | New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Education | Johnson & Wales University, University of Westminster |
| Known for | Celebrity chef, television personality, author |
| Spouse | Janell Mack (m. 2016; divorced) |
| Children | 1 |
| Website | chefadjepong |
Eric Adjepong is an American chef, television personality, and author. He was a finalist on the television series Top Chef: Kentucky season 16. [1] [2] [3] He has appeared on multiple Food Network television shows, including as host of Alex vs. America and Wildcard Kitchen. [1] [4]
Eric Adjepong was born and raised in the Bronx neighborhood in New York City and is of Ghanaian descent. [5] [6] [7] He was the first member of his family to be born outside of Ghana, his parents immigrated to the United States in the 1980s. [8] [9]
He has a degree in culinary arts and nutrition from Johnson & Wales University, and a master’s of public health degree in international public health nutrition from the University of Westminster. [10]
Adjepong married Janell Mack in 2016, and together they have a daughter. [11] [12] The couple divorced.[ citation needed ]
Adjepong's culinary interest are in the American South, West African, Caribbean, and South American cuisines. [6] [13] He co-owns with his ex-wife Janell, "Pinch and Plate" in Washington, D.C., a catering company which also hosts pop-up meals. [8] [13]
In 2018, Adjepong made it to the Top Chef: Kentucky finale, where he competed against two other chefs: Kelsey Barnard Clark of Alabama, and Sara Bradley of Kentucky. [13] He ambitiously announced his meal for the series finale would, “tell the story of the transatlantic slave trade and how those flavors migrated to the South”, which highlighted both underrepresented cuisine and history. [13] [14]
After becoming a finalist on season 16 of Top Chef: Kentucky, Adjepong competed on season 17 of Top Chef: All-Stars L.A. [15] and several other Food Network shows, like Guy Fieri's Tournament of Champions. [5] He has been a food competition judge on the television series, the Great Soul Food Cook-Off, Supermarket Stakeout , Guy's Grocery Games , Beat Bobby Flay , and Chopped. [5]
In 2020, he had plans to open a counter service restaurant called "On the Double" in the Union Market food hall, [16] however it was greatly delayed. [17]
Since January 2022, Adjepong is the host of Alex vs. America , a Food Network show on its third season starring chef Alex Guarnaschelli competing against a series of guest chefs with a focus on a single culinary genre. [4] [18]
first person in my immediate family to be born outside of Ghana. My parents arrived in New York City in the late 1980s