Edward Lee (chef) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Edward Lee

Lee in 2018
Born	(1972-07-02) July 2, 1972 (age 53) Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Cooking style	New American Southern Korean
Education	New York University (BA)
Spouse	Dianne Lee ​ (m. 2010)​
Current restaurant(s) Shia 610 Magnolia Succotash Prime Nami Modern Korean Steakhouse
Television show(s) Edward Lee's Country Cook (2025)
Award(s) won James Beard Foundation Award

Edward Lee, born on July 2, 1972, is a famous American chef, writer, and restaurant owner. His Korean name is Lee Kyun. He has appeared on many TV cooking shows like Iron Chef America and Top Chef. Edward Lee owns several restaurants in Louisville, Kentucky and Washington, D.C.. He has also won several important awards, including the James Beard Foundation Award for his book Buttermilk Graffiti in 2019. In 2024, his charity, the LEE Initiative, won the James Beard Humanitarian Award. In 2025, he hosted a South Korean TV show called Edward Lee's Country Cook.

Early Life and Cooking Start

Edward Lee was born in Brooklyn, New York, in the United States. His parents were from Korea. He started cooking when he was 11 years old. He says his grandmother first made him interested in food. He went to New York University and earned a degree in literature.

Chef Edward Lee's Career Journey

Lee (second from right) at the State Dining Room of the White House with First Lady Jill Biden in April 2023.

Edward Lee began cooking professionally at age 22. His first job was at a French Moroccan restaurant in New York City. He later traveled to France to cook in different restaurants. After that, he spent five years learning about Korean cuisine and other foods from East Asia and Southeast Asia.

In 2001, Lee visited Louisville, Kentucky, for the Kentucky Derby. He loved the city and its Southern cooking. He moved there in 2002 and started working at a restaurant called 610 Magnolia. Just one year later, he became the owner of 610 Magnolia.

TV Appearances and Cookbooks

In 2010, Edward Lee was on Season 8 of Iron Chef America. The next year, in 2011, he competed on Season 9 of Top Chef. He won two challenges and finished fifth in the competition. He also hosted the third season of The Mind of a Chef. For this show, he was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award.

In 2013, Lee released his first cookbook, Smoke and Pickles. Famous chefs like David Chang and Anthony Bourdain praised his book. In 2014, he started a cooking training program in Louisville. This program helps young people learn restaurant skills. In 2015, his students opened a pop-up diner called Smoke & Soul.

Helping the Community: The LEE Initiative

In 2017, Edward Lee started the LEE Initiative. LEE stands for "Let's Empower Employment." This group helps solve problems in the restaurant world. It works to make the restaurant community better for everyone. The initiative has programs like Smoke and Soul. It also supports women chefs in Kentucky.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the LEE Initiative created the Restaurant Workers Relief Program. This program helped restaurant workers who lost their jobs. In 2024, the LEE Initiative won a James Beard Humanitarian Award for its important work.

Chef Edward Lee cooking in the White House Kitchen in April 2023.

In 2023, Edward Lee was a special guest chef at a state dinner at the White House. He cooked for the President of South Korea, Yoon Suk-yeol, during his visit to the United States.

In 2024, Lee published his third book, Bourbon Land. This book shares recipes using bourbon. It also tells the history of bourbon. In 2024, Lee competed on the Korean cooking show Culinary Class Wars on Netflix. He finished as the runner-up. He also appeared on Please Take Care of My Refrigerator in December 2024.

In January 2025, Edward Lee received the Stepping Stone Award. This award was for his efforts to share Korean culture with the world. On February 14, 2025, his travel and food show, Edward Lee's Country Cook, started airing in South Korea.

Edward Lee's Unique Cooking Style

Edward Lee's cooking often mixes Korean flavors with ingredients from the southern United States. He uses foods like sorghum, ham, and bourbon. He believes that foods grown at the same latitude often taste good together. This is true even if the places are far apart.

Personal Life

Edward Lee is married to Dianne Durcholz, who is from Kentucky. They have one daughter named Arden Lee.

Restaurants by Edward Lee

In 1996, Edward Lee opened his first restaurant, Clay, in New York City. It was a small Korean restaurant. Clay closed after the September 11 attacks.

In Louisville, Kentucky, Lee has owned 610 Magnolia since the early 2000s. This restaurant serves modern Southern cuisine. In 2007, he opened the Wine Studio there for special events.

Lee also owns Succotash, a restaurant that mixes Southern and Asian cuisine. The first Succotash opened in National Harbor, Maryland, in 2015. A second location opened in Washington, D.C., in 2017.

In 2020, Lee closed his Louisville restaurant, Milkwood. He briefly reopened it as McAtee Community Kitchen. This kitchen helped feed people in Louisville during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2023, Lee opened Nami Modern Korean Steakhouse in Louisville. This restaurant was named one of USA Today's best restaurants in 2024.

In November 2024, Lee opened Shia in Washington, D.C.. Shia is a fine dining restaurant. It serves Korean American fusion cuisine. Shia also uses sustainable practices. For example, it is plastic-free and uses recycled paper for menus.

Current Restaurants

• Shia (Washington, D.C.)
• 610 Magnolia (Louisville, KY)
• Succotash Prime (Washington, D.C.)
• Succotash Prime (National Harbor, MD)
• Nami Modern Korean Steakhouse (Louisville, KY)

Previous Restaurants

• Clay (Manhattan, NY)
• Milkwood (Louisville, KY)
• Whiskey Dry (Louisville, KY)

Edward Lee's TV Shows and Appearances

Awards and Honors

James Beard Foundation Awards

• 2008–2010: Semifinalist for Best Chef
• 2011–2017: Finalist for Best Chef
• 2019: Best Book of the Year in Writing for Buttermilk Graffiti
• 2024: Humanitarian of the Year – Awarded to LEE Initiative

Daytime Emmy Awards

• 2015: Nomination for Outstanding Culinary Host for The Mind of a Chef

International Association of Culinary Professionals

• 2019: Finalist for Literary Food Writing

Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards

• 2021: Kentucky Humanitarian Award

Korea Image Awards

• 2025: Stepping Stone Award