The City of Houston has an untold amount of recognized chefs; From James Beard Awards to Michelin Stars, our culinary scene is backed by some of the best in the business. For another feather in our cap, Houston now has a Top Chef winner: Tristen Epps.
Top Chef Season 22
For the first time in the history of the series, a Houston chef has been crowned the culinary title of Top Chef amid the conclusion of Season 22.
Over the course of Season 22, Tristen Epps won multiple challenges, enduring the personal tragedy of losing his stepfather, before securing his victory in the finale and the $250k grand prize.
The final challenge was for the competing chefs: Epps, Shuai Wang, and Bailey Sullivan, to create a four-course progressive dinner, where Epps sealed his victory with an African-Caribbean menu:
Food & Wine Editor, Hunter Lewis had this to say of Epps’ winning menu:
“Epps was cooking and competing at a different level. His third course, an exceptional riff on oxtail Milanese, likely sealed his win.”
Tristen Epps History and Experience
Epps grew up around the globe. Born into a military family of Trinidadian decent, Epps’ childhood spanned from the Philippines to Guam, Japan to Virginia Beach. His culinary experience spans fine-dining hotels, acclaimed restaurants, and television competitions.
A graduate of Johnson & Wales University, he honed his foundational skills through an apprenticeship at The Greenbrier and early work at luxury properties like The Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons.
Epps began his Houston journey around 2013 as Sous Chef at Quattro (Four Seasons Houston) and worked at The Pass & Provisions before gaining national attention on TV shows like The Taste and Beat Bobby Flay, which led to a mentorship with Marcus Samuelsson.
He went on to lead kitchens in New York, Denver, and Miami, most notably as Executive Chef at Red Rooster in Overtown, which under his lead, would go one to be named the “Best Restaurant in Miami“, among the “Top 12 Best New Restaurants in the World” by Condé Nast Traveler, and recognition by the Michelin Guide. In 2024, Epps was a James Beard semifinalist while at Ocean Social.
Epps moved back to Houston in 2024, where he hosted pop-up dining experiences under his brand Epps & Flows Culinary at Jun.
Chef Epps’ New Houston Restaurant
As for Houston, Epps has plans to open up a new Afro-Caribbean concept called “Buboy”. Named after his grandfather, the intimate 20-seat tasting restaurant will feature a menu with the same narrative-driven dining that excelled him to victory in Top Chef.
There’s no opening timeline as of yet, as Epps is still in the phase of curating the menu and selecting the local. In the meantime, all we can do is wait and congratulate the Houston chef on his Top Chef win!