Chef & Southern Cuisine Expert; Founder of SundayBest; Author of "Sunday Best"; "Top Chef" Season 15 Runner-Up
Chef Adrienne Cheatham Biography
Chef Adrienne Cheatham is an award-winning chef, cookbook author, and television personality recognized for her expertise in Southern cuisine, culinary storytelling, and professional discipline. Cheatham grew up in Chicago's South Side, gaining early experience in the restaurant industry by assisting her mother in local kitchens and dining rooms. After graduating magna cum laude from Florida A&M University with a focus on business and journalism, she pursued a culinary career, working in kitchens from Orlando to the Gulf of Mexico before moving to New York City. There, she balanced bartending at night with unpaid kitchen work during the day and attended the Institute of Culinary Education.
Cheatham advanced her culinary career at Le Bernardin, the three-Michelin-star restaurant led by Chef Eric Ripert. Beginning as a commis, she spent eight years rising to the position of executive sous chef. During her tenure, she collaborated with Ripert on his cookbook and the PBS show "Avec Eric," contributing to recipe development and editing. Cheatham later joined Chef Marcus Samuelsson as corporate chef de cuisine, assisting with the opening of Streetbird, which earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand, and then became executive chef at Red Rooster in Harlem, where she developed tasting menus, including a multi-course Black History Month menu inspired by female African American chefs.
Cheatham gained national recognition as the runner-up on Season 15 of Bravo's "Top Chef," filmed in Colorado. Her appearance on the show introduced her to a wider audience and led to opportunities such as a guest spot on HBO Max's "Selena + Chef." She has spoken at industry events including Cherry Bombe Magazine's Jubilee festival and was featured in the New York Times documentary series Tastemakers. Cheatham advocates for increased visibility of women and people of color in professional kitchens.
Cheatham is the founder of SundayBest, a pop-up dinner series in Harlem that explores the cultural roots of Southern cuisine through four-course meals. The series inspired her debut cookbook, "Sunday Best: Cooking Up the Weekend Spirit Every Day," published by Clarkson Potter. The book, recognized by Epicurious and nominated for a James Beard Award, blends Southern culinary traditions, her mother's German and Irish heritage, and classical French techniques. Cheatham continues to contribute to the culinary industry through her work as a chef, author, and advocate for diversity in food culture.
Chef Adrienne Cheatham Videos
Key Note: Chef Cheatham Serves Up a New Holiday Favorite
n our November episode Chef Adrienne Cheatham joined us to share healthy ways to tweak our holiday menus without sacrificing flavor.
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How do I book Chef Adrienne Cheatham to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Chef Adrienne Cheatham for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Chef Adrienne Cheatham, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Chef Adrienne Cheatham or any other speaker of your choice. -
What are the speaker fees for Chef Adrienne Cheatham
Speaking fees for Chef Adrienne Cheatham, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Chef Adrienne Cheatham are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and under $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Chef Adrienne Cheatham, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does Chef Adrienne Cheatham speak about?
Chef Adrienne Cheatham is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Black Heritage, Celebrity Chef, Celebrity Chef, Executive Leadership, Hospitality, Non-Fiction Authors -
Where does Chef Adrienne Cheatham travel from?
Chef Adrienne Cheatham generally travels from Manhattan, NY, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent. -
Who is Chef Adrienne Cheatham’s agent?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Chef Adrienne Cheatham for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Chef Adrienne Cheatham for your next private or corporate function. -
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Chef Adrienne Cheatham is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Chef Adrienne Cheatham for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. Chef Adrienne Cheatham generally travels from Manhattan, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Aarti Sequeira, Priyanka Naik, Dale Talde, Douglass Williams and Art Smith. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Chef Adrienne Cheatham for an upcoming live or virtual event.
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