Onwuachi was born in Long Island , New York and grew up in The Bronx . At age 10 , he was sent to live with his grandfather in Nigeria for two years . Onwuachi graduated from high school in the Bronx but dropped out of college and moved to Baton Rouge , Louisiana , where he became the head chef on a boat serving crews cleaning up the Deepwater Horizon oil spill . He returned to New York City in 2010 , waiting tables at Tom Colicchio 's '' Craft '' before opening his own catering business , Onwuachi ’s Coterie Catering . In 2012 , Onwuachi enrolled at The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park , New York . During culinary school , Onwuachi worked an externship at '' Per Se '' , and after graduation he worked as a line cook at '' Eleven Madison Park '' . In 2015 , he was a contestant on Top Chef ( season 13 ) . In November 2016 , Onwuachi opened his own restaurant in a converted townhouse in the Shaw neighborhood of Washington , D.C. , called the '' Shaw Bijou '' , serving a 13-course tasting menu . The reviews were mixed , and critics questioned whether it was worth the price . After two months , Onwuachi scaled back the menu and reduced prices , but the primary investor closed the restaurant in January 2017
Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Kwame Onwuachi