Congratulations to Christian Hunter, chef at Atelier, and the 2023 MICHELIN Guide Chicago Young Chef Award Winner, presented in partnership by Rémy Martin!
Eating home cooked meals out of the home might seem like a contradiction, however, that's what Hunter brings nightly to Atelier. That cozy and warming feeling through food is at the core Hunter's ethos as a chef.
Melding his southern heritage with locally sourced products, the Kentucky native dishes out flavor packed modern American cuisine. Below, the award winner gives us the run down on Chicago's dining scene and how his relationship with cooking has changed throughout the years. Cheers!
What inspired you to become a chef?
My inspiration is and always will be food and how it connects us all. I enjoy cooking food for others and the feeling that a home cooked meal gives—the same feeling a home cooked meal gave me as a kid. The world of food is vast and dynamic, so the more you grow in the craft, the more you realize you know nothing. I continue to cook to learn and grow. Apparently, if you do that long enough in a restaurant, people start to call you chef!
How has your relationship with cooking changed as you progressed with your career?
I will always be a cook, but the opportunity and time to physically do it while also maintaining and refining a restaurant can be slim at times. Anytime I can sneak on the line besides doing R&D, best believe I’m there!
What motivates you in the kitchen?
Culture, art, music, my family, squad, patrons, and being the best.
How would you describe Chicago's food scene?
Inspiring! If you can think it, not only is it in Chicago, but it’s also gonna be delicious. So many people from different places are behind the Chicago dining scene, but even more than that is how these influences create a flavor profile for the entire city and beyond. If you ever want inspiration for food, art, culture, or music, move to Chicago!
What do you have for breakfast?
Iced Americano with oat milk!
Do you cook at home, or do you leave work at work?
Rarely, haha. Only on holidays and get togethers.
Favorite food-related show, book, program, etc?
This is a terrible question! Off the top of my head, I always suggest to people: every Edna Lewis cookbook, "The Flavor Bible", "The Art of Fermentation", "Six Seasons", and "Tartine Bread".
