Tristen Epps-Long, Chef

Chef Tristen Epps-Long, winner of Top Chef Season 22, is redefining Afro-Caribbean cuisine through bold flavors, global technique, and cultural storytelling. A Johnson & Wales graduate and alum of The Greenbrier, Tristen rose to acclaim as Executive Chef at Red Rooster Overtown, earning recognition from the Michelin Guide and Condé Nast Traveler. His accolades include the StarChefs Rising Star award and a James Beard Award semifinalist nod.

Now based in Houston, Tristen is developing Buboy—a contemporary Afro-Caribbean tasting-menu restaurant named after his grandfather. Rooted in heritage and memory, the concept celebrates Black foodways through expressive, modern technique.