Edward Lee (chef)

Edward Lee(born July 2, 1972),Korean nameLee Kyun(Korean:이균),is an American celebrity chef, author and restaurateur. He has made numerous television appearances on shows includingThe Mind of a Chef,Iron Chef America,Top Chef, andCulinary Class Wars. Lee owns multiple restaurants inLouisville, KentuckyandWashington, D.C.and has garnered severalJames Beard Foundation Awardnominations. In 2019, Lee was awarded the James Beard Foundation Award for his bookButtermilk Graffiti, as well as the James Beard Humanitarian Award for his nonprofit organization, the LEE Initiative, in 2024.
In 2025, Lee starred and hosted thetvNreality show,Edward Lee's Country Cook.
Lee was born on July 2, 1972, inBrooklyn, New York, United States toKoreanparents. He began cooking at age 11 and credits his grandmother with first sparking his interest in food. He graduatedmagna cum laudewith a bachelor's degree in literature fromNew York University.
Lee began cooking professionally at age 22 in aFrench Moroccanrestaurant called Chez Es Saada in theEast Village of Manhattan. One summer, he traveled toFranceand cooked in several restaurants, after which he spent five years learningKorean cuisine, as well as the cuisine of other parts ofEast AsiaandSoutheast Asia.
On a trip to theKentucky Derbyin 2001, Lee fell in love withLouisvilleandSouthern cooking.He moved to the city in 2002 and began working at 610 Magnolia with former chef and owner Eddie Garber. Barely a year after he moved to the city, he became owner of 610 Magnolia.
In 2010, Lee appeared on Season 8 ofIron Chef America.The next year, in 2011, Lee was one of the "cheftestants" on season 9 ofTop Chef. He won two elimination challenges and finished fifth in the competition. He was also the host chef featured in the third season ofThe Mind of a Chef, for which he received aDaytime Emmynomination for Outstanding Culinary Host.
In 2013, Lee published a cookbook,Smoke and Pickles. It received positive reviews from food journalists and other chefs includingDavid ChangandAnthony Bourdain.The next year, in 2014, Lee partnered withYouthBuildand IDEAS 40203 to create a culinary training program based in theSmoketownneighborhood of Louisville. The program trained youth, who may not be able to afford expensive culinary schools, with skills in all aspects of the restaurant industry.In 2015, Lee's trainees launched a pop-up diner called Smoke & Soul.
In 2017, Lee was the chef judge for the American adaptation ofCulinary Genius.The same year, Lee founded the LEE Initiative; Lee is an acronym for "Let's Empower Employment." The Initiative identifies issues surrounding diversity in the restaurant industry and creates solutions to help the restaurant community grow. The initiative includes two programs: Smoke and Soul, and Women Chefs inKentucky.During the COVID pandemic, the initiative developed the Restaurant Workers Relief Program to supportworkers laid off by shutdowns.In 2024, the initiative won a James Beard Humanitarian Award.
In 2023, Lee was selected as the guest chef at the April 26state dinnerat theWhite Houseduring South Korean presidentYoon Suk Yeol's visit to the United States.
In 2024, Lee published his third book,Bourbon Land, which collects several recipes involvingbourbonand elaborates its history and regional significance.The same year, Lee participated on the Korean cooking competition showCulinary Class WarsonNetflix, finishing as runner-up.There, he revealed his Korean first name, Kyun, in the finals round after making a dessert inspired bytteokbokki.In December 2024, Lee made an appearance on the reboot ofPlease Take Care of My Refrigerator.
On January 2025, Lee was awarded the Stepping Stone Award by the Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI) for his ambassadorial efforts in spreading awareness of Korean culture.
On February 14, 2025,Edward Lee's Country Cook, a South Korean travel and food show hosted by Lee, premiered on tvN.
Edward Lee's approach to cooking frequently blends the flavors of his Korean heritage and culinary traditions with the ingredients of the southern United States includingsorghum,ham, andbourbon. InThe Mind of a Chef, Lee said he believes that food that grows in the same latitude often blends well together, even if the locations are thousands of miles apart.
Lee is married to Kentucky native Dianne Durcholz.They have one daughter, Arden Lee.
In 1996, Lee opened his first restaurant, Clay, a small Korean restaurant in Manhattan'sNolitaneighbourhood servingkalbi.Clay closed following the September 11 attacks.
InLouisville, Lee has owned 610 Magnolia, a modern restaurant specializing inSouthern cuisine, since the early 2000s.There, in 2007, Lee opened a venue for special events called the Wine Studio.
Lee also owns Succotash, a restaurant combiningSouthernandAsian cuisine, the first location of which opened inNational Harborin 2015.Later, in 2017, he opened a second location for Succotash inWashington, D.C.
In 2020, Lee closed his Louisville restaurant, Milkwood, and briefly reopened it as McAtee Community Kitchen, named afterDavid McAtee, which helped feed theWest End,Shelby ParkandRussellneighborhoods in Louisville during theCOVID-19 pandemic.
In 2023, Lee opened Nami Modern Korean Steakhouse in Louisville, which was named onUSA Today'sbest restaurants list of 2024.
In November 2024, Lee opened afine diningrestaurant inWashington, D.C., Shia, servingKorean Americanfusion cuisine. Shia is environmentally conscious through sustainable practices such as being plastic-free, designing menus and coasters from leftover paper, and dehydrating waste.
James Beard Foundation Awards
Daytime Emmy Awards
International Association of Culinary Professionals
Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards
Korea Image Awards