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Tiffani Faison

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Tiffani Faison
Tiffani Faison, Top Chef All-Stars
Born
Bremerhaven, Germany
EducationCambridge Culinary Institute
Culinary career
Current restaurant(s)
  • Sweet Cheeks Q (Boston)
    Fool's Errand (Boston)
    Orfano (Boston)
    Bubble Bath (Boston)
    Tenderoni's (Boston)
    Dive Bar (Boston)
Television show(s)

Tiffani Faison is a chef in Boston,[1][2] a judge on Food Network's Chopped,[3] and a four-time James Beard Finalist for Best Chef: Northeast (2018, 2019, 2020, 2022).[4][5] The German–born chef was one of two finalists on the first season of Bravo's reality show, Top Chef. She finished second place to Harold Dieterle.

Faison is based in Boston, Massachusetts and her company, Big Heart Hospitality owns six restaurants: Sweet Cheeks Q, Orfano, Fool's Errand, Bubble Bath, Tenderoni's, and Dive Bar.[6] An additional restaurant is expected to open later in 2022.[7]

Early career

Faison attended the Cambridge Culinary Institute (2002-2003).[8] Just prior to appearing on Top Chef, Faison was employed as chef de partie under Daniel Boulud at his signature, Michelin Star restaurant in the Wynn Las Vegas and also worked at the Tao restaurant at The Venetian in the same city.

After the airing of the final episode of Top Chef in May 2006, Faison took a summer position cooking at the Straight Wharf restaurant in Nantucket, Massachusetts, working under chefs Amanda Lydon and Gabriel Frasca.[9] In 2007, she was executive chef at Todd English's brasserie, Riche, in New Orleans, Louisiana.[10] In May 2007, Faison cohosted a Greek Isles culinary cruise for Olivia, a lesbian lifestyle and travel services company.[11] Faison returned to Boston, and was Executive Chef at Rocca Kitchen & Bar (500 Harrison Avenue), a once popular neighborhood space on Friday nights, until it closed in December, 2010.[12][13]

Television appearances

Faison first rose to culinary fame when she placed runner up in the first Season of Top Chef.[14] She then took part in a single episode cooking competition called 4 Star All Stars which pitted four Top Chef season one contestants (Stephen Asprinio, Dieterle, Faison and David Martin) against four season two contestants (Elia Aboumrad, Ilan Hall, Sam Talbot and Marcel Vigneron). Faison's team scored the winning menu and received a $20,000 donation to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure charity. This episode aired on Bravo on June 6, 2007.[15]

Faison also took part in the Top Chef Holiday Special that aired on December 7, 2007, winning the $20,000 prize. Faison returned as a contestant on season 8 of Top Chef, and was eliminated in the sixth episode. Faison finished as runner-up in the Top Chef Duels 2014 competition.[16] As of 2020, Faison is a judge on Chopped and participated as the judge to beat on one of the beat the judge episodes. She also made it to the finals of Chopped: Grudge Match, placing second to Marcus Samuelsson.[17]

In 2021, Faison competed in Food Network's Tournament of Champions,[18][19] and in 2022, Faison will return to compete on Tournament of Champions, Season 3,[20] as well as serve as a judge on Chopped: Casino Royale.[21]

Faison has also been a culinary guest on such national television shows as NBC TODAY,[22]CBS: This Morning [23] and America's Test Kitchen.[24]

Chef and restaurateur

Faison is currently owner and head chef of Sweet Cheeks Q, a Texas-style barbecue restaurant in Boston's Fenway District. Opened in late 2011, Sweet Cheeks was her first restaurant.[25] Sweet Cheeks has been named as Boston's Best Barbecue by local and national media,[26][27] and Forbes wrote that its "biscuits were the best in the world."[28] In December 2015 she opened her acclaimed restaurant, Tiger Mama, a restaurant in Fenway focusing on Southeast Asian cuisine.[29] Faison closed Tiger Mama in late October 2021 in order to focus on a new restaurant that will be located in the same space in Fenway (coming in late 2022).[30] In February 2018, Faison opened up her third Fenway restaurant, the "Adult Snack Bar" Fool's Errand.[31] Her latest venture Orfano, which serves Italian-American cuisine, opened in August 2019 and received a three star review from The Boston Globe.[32][33] In 2022, Faison opened Tenderoni's, Dive Bar and Bubble Bath within High Street Place, a new food hall in Downtown Boston.[34]

Personal life

Faison formerly identified as bisexual[35] but now identifies as lesbian.[36][37] She was born in Germany, where her Vietnam vet father was stationed. They moved around several times during her childhood and by the time she was in high school, settled in Santa Rosa, California. Faison began volunteering for HIV/AIDS organizations and going into San Francisco.[37]

Faison currently serves on the Board of Directors for Women Chefs & Restaurateurs as well as on The Boston Alliance of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Youth.[38] In September 2019, she was appointed to The Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Restaurant Promotion Commission for her commitment to the state's restaurant business as a whole.[39]

Awards and accolades

  • James Beard Foundation, Nominee, Best Chef: Northeast (2022)[40]
  • James Beard Foundation, Nominee, Best Chef: Northeast (2020)[41]
  • James Beard Foundation, Nominee, Best Chef: Northeast (2019)[42]
  • James Beard Foundation, Nominee, Best Chef: Northeast (2018)[43]
  • Boston Magazine, Best Chef: Boston (2016) [44]

References

  1. ^ "Tiffani Faison, Tiger Mama and Sweet Cheeks, Best Chef, in Boston". Bostonmagazine.com. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  2. ^ https://www.nbcboston.com/news/national-international/tiffani-faison-has-changed-the-face-of-dining-in-fenway/2162482/
  3. ^ "Search Results".
  4. ^ "Chopped' judge Tiffani Faison of Big Heart Hospitality is an influential culinary force in the Boston area". Nrn.com.
  5. ^ "Here Are the 2020 James Beard Award Nominees from Boston and New England". Bostonmagazine.com. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  6. ^ "Big Heart Hospitality". Foolserrandboston.com. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  7. ^ "Tiffani Faison's Tiger Mama to close; new concept coming next year". Bizjournals.com. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  8. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-02-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. ^ Shanahan, Carol Beggy & Mark. "Veterans are Kerrys' guests on Nantucket". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  10. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2007-03-02. Retrieved 2007-02-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-01-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. ^ "Rocca has closed". Boston.com. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  13. ^ First, Devra (28 July 2010). "A star is born . . . at Rocca". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  14. ^ "'Top Chef' Winners: Where Are They Now?". Usmagazine.com. 2 July 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  15. ^ "Top Chef official website". Bravotv.com. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  16. ^ Duffy, Paula (2014-10-09). "Top Chef Duels: Surprise Winner Crowned in Finale".
  17. ^ "Grudge Match: Battle 2". Foodnetwork.com. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  18. ^ "Meet the Chefs Competing in Season 2 of Guy Fieri's Tournament of Champions". Foodnetwork.com.
  19. ^ Major, Michael. "Food Network Announces TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS III Premiere". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  20. ^ Rosario, Alexandra Del (18 January 2022). "Guy Fieri's 'Tournament Of Champions' Renewed For Season 3 At Food Network". Deadline.com. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  21. ^ ""Chopped" Casino Royals: Battle 1 (TV Episode 2022)". IMDb.com. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  22. ^ "Step up your wing game with masala, maple and orange-sesame glazes". Today.com. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  23. ^ "The Dish: Chef Tiffani Faison of Sweet Cheeks". Cbsnews.com. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  24. ^ "The Best Pasta Tools for Homemade Pasta with Chef Tiffani Faison". Facebook.com. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  25. ^ "Sweet Cheeks". Sweetcheeksq.com. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  26. ^ "Great American Bites: Boston's best barbecue". USA TODAY. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  27. ^ "Sweet Cheeks, Best Barbecue Restaurant, in Bosto". Bostonmagazine.comn. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  28. ^ Olmsted, Larry. "The World's Best Biscuits! In Boston?". Forbes.com. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  29. ^ "Your Site Title". Tigermamaboston.com. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  30. ^ "Tiffani Faison's Tiger Mama Will Close at the End of October". Eater Boston. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
  31. ^ "Tiffani Faison's New Fenway 'Adult Snack Bar' Serves Small Bites to a Standing Crowd". Eater Boston. Retrieved 2018-11-13.
  32. ^ "Check Out Tiffani Faison's New Menu at Orfano, Now Open in the Fenway". Bostonmagazine.com. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  33. ^ "A red-sauce shrine to the matron saints - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  34. ^ "High Street Place, Boston's upcoming food hall, will open in March 2022". Boston.com. Retrieved 27 January 2022. Tenderoni's serves craft pizza by the slice, while Dive Bar offers raw oysters and other seafood dishes.
  35. ^ Riese (May 29, 2012). "15 Queers Cooking: Anne Burrell Joins Robust Legion of Lesbian Celebrity Chefs | Autostraddle". Autostraddle. The Excitant Group. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  36. ^ Abrams, Boris (January 14, 2019). "The East Coast's Preeminent Lesbian Chef Is on a Mission". The Advocate. Here Media. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  37. ^ a b Kearnan, Scott (January 8, 2019). "Tiffani Faison Has Nothing to Apologize For". Boston Magazine. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  38. ^ "BAGLY Supporters". Bagly.org. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  39. ^ "Report to the Legislature Regarding The Massachusetts Restaurant Industry" (PDF). Visitma.com. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  40. ^ "The 2022 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Nominees". Jamesbeard.org.
  41. ^ "The 2020 James Beard Award Nominees". Jamesbeard.org.
  42. ^ "Here Are the New England James Beard Foundation Nominees for 2019". Boston.eater.com. 27 March 2019.
  43. ^ "Here Are the 2018 James Beard Award Finalists from Boston". Bostonmagazine.com. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  44. ^ "The Best Chef, in Boston". Bostonmagazine.com. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
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