Residency · March 2026
Tristen Epps
Celebrity Chef & Restaurateur
February 27, 2026 – April 2, 2026
Past residency
At a glance
- CuisineCaribbean Roots & West African Infusion
- DatesFebruary 27, 2026 – April 2, 2026
- VenueRotation by Feast it Forward, Napa, CA — Oxbow Public Market.
Accolades
Recognition
- 40 under 40 Black Professionals by Legacy Magazine 2023
- Top 20 Under 40 Most Professional in Miami by Brickell Magazine 2022
- Rising Star Chef by Star Chefs of America 2021
- James Beard Semi-Finalist nomination for Best Chef South 2024
- 40 under 40 Black Professionals by Legacy Magazine 2023
- Top 20 Under 40 Most Professional in Miami by Brickell Magazine 2022
- Rising Star Chef by Star Chefs of America 2021
- James Beard Semi-Finalist nomination for Best Chef South 2024
About
Tristen Epps
Chef Tristen Epps-Long, winner of Top Chef Season 22 in 2025, is redefining modern Afro-Caribbean cuisine through bold flavors, cultural storytelling, and global influence. Born of Trinidadian roots, Tristen traces his passion for cooking back to childhood, when he traveled the world with his active military mother. Living in Guam, Japan, and the Philippines shaped his eclectic palate and sparked a lifelong curiosity for flavor and technique.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in Culinary Arts and Food & Beverage Industry Management from Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte, NC, followed by a rigorous three-year apprenticeship at The Greenbrier under Certified Master Chef Richard Rosendale. After appearing on ABC’s The Taste in 2014, Tristen joined Marcus Samuelsson’s Red Rooster Harlem, beginning a creative partnership that would span multiple cities and countries.
Tristen later served as Executive Chef at Red Rooster Overtown in Miami, where he led the restaurant to a Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand award and international acclaim—including a spot on Condé Nast Traveler’s “12 Best New Restaurants in the World” list. Personal accolades followed, including the StarChefs Rising Star award and a James Beard Award semifinalist nod for Best Chef: South for his work at Eden Roc’s Ocean Social by Tristen Epps.
Dedicated to bringing recognition to Black foodways and elevating it within fine-dining culture, Tristen aspires to be a trailblazer and role model for the next generation of chefs.
Now based in Houston, Tristen is building Epps & Flows Culinary, his hospitality group focused on concept development, cultural storytelling, and culinary collaboration. His next concept is Buboy, a contemporary Afro-Caribbean tasting menu restaurant rooted in heritage, memory, and expressive technique. Through Buboy, Tristen aims to honor the depth and diversity of the African diaspora while pushing the boundaries of modern fine dining.
For the latest on his culinary projects and upcoming pop-ups, visit www.eppsandflows.com and follow @ChefTristenEpps on social media.
Gallery
Moments
Slide 1 of 9
Film
In focus
Questions
FAQ
Who is Tristen Epps and why is he notable?
Chef Tristen Epps-Long is the winner of Top Chef Season 22 in 2025, and one of the most prominent voices in modern Afro-Caribbean cuisine. He is a Caribbean-American chef who focuses on neo Afro-Caribbean cuisine in a fine-dining format, with accolades including a James Beard Award semifinalist nomination and a Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition under his leadership.
What is Tristen Epps's culinary background?
Born of Trinidadian roots, Epps traces his interest in cooking back to his childhood spent traveling the globe with his active military mother — postings in Guam, Japan, and the Philippines helped fuel his passion for international flavor. He completed his bachelor's degree in Culinary Arts and Food & Beverage Industry Management at Johnson & Wales in Charlotte, NC, followed by a three-year apprenticeship at The Greenbrier under AFC Certified Master Chef Richard Rosendale.
What restaurants has Tristen Epps cooked at?
Epps served as Executive Chef at Red Rooster Overtown in Miami, where he led the restaurant to a Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand award and international acclaim — including a spot on Condé Nast Traveler's "12 Best New Restaurants in the World" list. His career also includes the sous chef position at Marcus Samuelsson's Red Rooster in Harlem and the executive chef role at the farm-to-table Cooks & Captains. He later ran the culinary program at South Beach's Eden Roc Hotel through his eponymous Ocean Social by Tristen Epps.
What is Afro-Caribbean cuisine?
Epps explains it as the basis of American cooking — the Southern foodways of the United States trace directly to Afro-Caribbean influence through the slave trade from Africa into the Caribbean, into South America, and into the southeastern U.S. He describes it as "vibrant, delicious; the food of sustenance, sustainability, and perseverance — and modernism." His approach researches heritage recipes and presents them using classical fine-dining technique, making the familiar unfamiliar and the unfamiliar approachable.
Has Tristen Epps been on television?
Epps won Top Chef Season 22 in 2025, which brought national visibility to his work in Afro-Caribbean cuisine. Earlier in his career, he was a finalist on ABC's The Taste in 2014, where Marcus Samuelsson became his on- and off-screen mentor.
What awards has Tristen Epps received?
Epps was named a Rising Star Chef by StarChefs of America in 2021, recognized as Top 20 Under 40 Most Professional in Miami by Brickell Magazine in 2022, and named to 40 Under 40 Black Professionals by Legacy Magazine in 2023. He earned a James Beard Award semifinalist nomination for Best Chef: South in 2024.
What is Tristen Epps's upcoming restaurant?
Epps is currently preparing to open Buboy, an intimate tasting menu restaurant of roughly 20 to 24 seats rooted in Afro-Caribbean cuisine and named after his grandfather's nickname. The concept reflects the rich tapestry of Trinidadian culture — blending African, Indian, Chinese, Latin, Dutch, and British influences — with an aspiration toward Michelin recognition.
- Who is Tristen Epps and why is he notable?
- Chef Tristen Epps-Long is the winner of Top Chef Season 22 in 2025, and one of the most prominent voices in modern Afro-Caribbean cuisine. He is a Caribbean-American chef who focuses on neo Afro-Caribbean cuisine in a fine-dining format, with accolades including a James Beard Award semifinalist nomination and a Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition under his leadership.
- What is Tristen Epps's culinary background?
- Born of Trinidadian roots, Epps traces his interest in cooking back to his childhood spent traveling the globe with his active military mother — postings in Guam, Japan, and the Philippines helped fuel his passion for international flavor. He completed his bachelor's degree in Culinary Arts and Food & Beverage Industry Management at Johnson & Wales in Charlotte, NC, followed by a three-year apprenticeship at The Greenbrier under AFC Certified Master Chef Richard Rosendale.
- What restaurants has Tristen Epps cooked at?
- Epps served as Executive Chef at Red Rooster Overtown in Miami, where he led the restaurant to a Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand award and international acclaim — including a spot on Condé Nast Traveler's "12 Best New Restaurants in the World" list. His career also includes the sous chef position at Marcus Samuelsson's Red Rooster in Harlem and the executive chef role at the farm-to-table Cooks & Captains. He later ran the culinary program at South Beach's Eden Roc Hotel through his eponymous Ocean Social by Tristen Epps.
- What is Afro-Caribbean cuisine?
- Epps explains it as the basis of American cooking — the Southern foodways of the United States trace directly to Afro-Caribbean influence through the slave trade from Africa into the Caribbean, into South America, and into the southeastern U.S. He describes it as "vibrant, delicious; the food of sustenance, sustainability, and perseverance — and modernism." His approach researches heritage recipes and presents them using classical fine-dining technique, making the familiar unfamiliar and the unfamiliar approachable.
- Has Tristen Epps been on television?
- Epps won Top Chef Season 22 in 2025, which brought national visibility to his work in Afro-Caribbean cuisine. Earlier in his career, he was a finalist on ABC's The Taste in 2014, where Marcus Samuelsson became his on- and off-screen mentor.
- What awards has Tristen Epps received?
- Epps was named a Rising Star Chef by StarChefs of America in 2021, recognized as Top 20 Under 40 Most Professional in Miami by Brickell Magazine in 2022, and named to 40 Under 40 Black Professionals by Legacy Magazine in 2023. He earned a James Beard Award semifinalist nomination for Best Chef: South in 2024.
- What is Tristen Epps's upcoming restaurant?
- Epps is currently preparing to open Buboy, an intimate tasting menu restaurant of roughly 20 to 24 seats rooted in Afro-Caribbean cuisine and named after his grandfather's nickname. The concept reflects the rich tapestry of Trinidadian culture — blending African, Indian, Chinese, Latin, Dutch, and British influences — with an aspiration toward Michelin recognition.