Kwame Onwuachi’s restaurant Tatiana named One to Watch by the World’s 50 Best Restaurants

Tatiana, a New York restaurant by Bronx-native chef Kwame Onwuachi, is named the recipient of the One to Watch Award by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants academy. The award, announced during a dinner at Tatiana, honours emerging restaurants that have demonstrated impressive culinary prowess on an international scale.

Located in the Lincoln Center, Manhattan’s Upper West Side, Tatiana only opened its doors six months ago. The restaurant, named after Onwuachi’s sister, brings to the table a creative fusion of Onwuachi’s New York upbringing and his rich African diaspora heritage.

Onwuachi’s innovative menu includes distinctive dishes like Cornbread and Cod with Smoked Jerk Cod, Buttermilk Soubise and Fennel; Egusi Dumplings Stuffed with Black Crab and served with Nigerian red stew and pickled pearl onions; and Braised Oxtails served with rice and peas, thumbelina carrot and chayote squash.

The award acknowledges Onwuachi’s impressive culinary journey, which saw him rise from being introduced to cooking by his mother to training at the Culinary Institute of America, working at world-renowned establishments such as Eleven Madison Park and Per Se, and opening five restaurants before the age of 30.

William Drew, director of content for the World’s 50 Best Restaurants, praised Onwuachi and his team’s culinary craftsmanship, crediting them for putting Caribbean, African and Black American cooking in the spotlight.

Pablo Rivero, CEO of Resy and VP of American Express Dining, echoed these sentiments, lauding Tatiana for embodying the ethos of the prestigious award and Resy’s mission to celebrate culinary creativity, community and storytelling.

This year’s programme for the World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023 includes key events such as the thought-leadership forum #50BestTalks, the 50 Best Signature Sessions series of collaborative dining events and a Chefs’ Feast showcasing Spanish regional cuisine, culminating in the awards ceremony on Tuesday 20^th June in Valencia.

The award signals Tatiana’s potential to ascend to the organisation’s annual global ranking in the future. As the culinary world watches, chef Kwame Onwuachi’s restaurant continues its path of innovation and excellence, promising exciting gastronomic experiences ahead.

Food Desk