Nyesha Joyce Arrington is an American chef, television personality, and restaurateur. She was a contestant on Top Chef: Texas season 9; and has been on various television shows, including as a mentor and judge on Fox's Next Level Chef.[1][2] Arrington formerly was a chef and partner at restaurants Leona, and Native in Southern California. She is nicknamed "The Ninja".[3]

Nyesha Arrington
Born
Nyesha Joyce Arrington

California, U.S.
Known forChef, television personality, restaurateur
Culinary career
Previous restaurant(s)
    • Native, Santa Monica, California (2017–2019),
      *Leona, Venice Beach, California (2016–2017)
Websitewww.nyeshaarrington.com

Biography

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Nyesha Joyce Arrington was born in Southern California. She is multiracial including Black, and her maternal grandmother was Korean.[4][5][6]

In 2011, Arrington was a contestant on Top Chef: Texas season 9. In 2012, she was named by Zagat as one of the "30 Under 30".[6] In her early career she cooked under chef Josiah Citrin at Mélisse, followed by serving as executive chef at Wilshire Restaurant in Santa Monica, California.[6][7] Arrington was awarded Eater LA’s chef of the year in 2015.[7]

Arrington was a chef and partner at Leona in the Venice neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, from 2016 to 2017.[6][8] She opened Native in Santa Monica, California, where she was chef and partner from 2017 until 2019.[4][9][10]

Fox's television series Next Level Chef premiered in January 2022, with Arrington serving as a mentor and judge.[2][11] The show was renewed for a fourth season.[12]

References

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  1. ^ "These Are The Best Dishes Nyesha Arrington Ate On Next Level Chef - Exclusive". Mashed. 2022-03-09. Retrieved 2023-06-09.
  2. ^ a b "Nyesha Arrington on Being a Mentor Amidst the Chaos of Next Level Chef". The Root. 2023-02-13. Retrieved 2023-06-09.
  3. ^ "Nyesha Arrington". Museum of Food and Drink (MOFAD). Retrieved 2023-06-09.
  4. ^ a b Park, Brian (2020-10-01). "Redefining the Korean experience". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-06-09.
  5. ^ "FOX's 'Next Level Chef' judge hopes to inspire more Black women to follow her path". FOX TV Digital Team. 2023-02-01. Retrieved 2023-06-09.
  6. ^ a b c d "Meet Chef Nyesha Arrington". Ebony. 2016-01-29. Retrieved 2023-06-09.
  7. ^ a b "Los Angeles Eater Awards 2015". Eater.com. Retrieved 2023-06-09.
  8. ^ Elliott, Farley (2017-01-30). "Top Chef's Nyesha Arrington departs from Leona in Venice". Eater LA. Retrieved 2023-06-09.
  9. ^ Elliott, Farley (2019-03-14). "Nyesha Arrington to close Santa Monica restaurant Native on Sunday". Eater LA. Retrieved 2023-06-09.
  10. ^ Glenn, Jane K. (5 November 2021). The Joy of Eating: A Guide to Food in Modern Pop Culture. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. p. 29. ISBN 979-8-216-10726-2.
  11. ^ Peter White (August 31, 2021). "Next Level Chef: Richard Blais Replaces Gino D'Acampo In Gordon Ramsay's Fox Cooking Competition Series". Deadline Hollywood.
  12. ^ Peter White (May 11, 2023). "Gordon Ramsay's Next Level Chef Handed Two-Season Renewal At Fox". Deadline Hollywood.
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