Hugh Acheson facts for kids

Hugh Acheson (born November 5, 1971) is a famous chef and restaurant owner from Canada. He has owned several popular restaurants in Georgia. You might also know him as a judge on the cooking show Top Chef and as an Iron Chef on Iron Chef Canada.

About Hugh Acheson

Hugh Acheson was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, on November 5, 1971. He is the youngest of four children. His dad was a professor, and his mom was a reading tutor. Hugh mostly grew up in Ottawa. He also spent two years living in the United States with his mom and stepfather.

Hugh's Early Cooking Journey

Hugh started his first kitchen job when he was just fifteen years old. He worked as a dishwasher at a cafe in Ottawa. After that, he worked at other restaurants in Ottawa. He then moved to Montreal, Quebec, to study at Concordia University. However, he soon decided to focus on cooking and started working in Italian restaurants there.

In 1994, Hugh moved back to Ottawa. He worked at a famous restaurant called Café Henry Burger. There, he learned a lot about French cuisine, wine, and proper dining rules. Later, he moved to Athens, Georgia, with his future wife, Mary Koon. She was going to graduate school at the University of Georgia.

Becoming a Head Chef

When Hugh moved to Athens, he became the head chef and manager at the Last Resort Grill. After his wife finished school, they moved to San Francisco, California. Hugh worked at a restaurant called Mecca. He also worked as a sous chef (a chef who is second-in-command) for a famous chef named Gary Danko.

After about two years, Hugh and his wife returned to Athens. The owner of Last Resort wanted Hugh to help her open a new restaurant. This led Hugh to open his very first restaurant, Five and Ten, in Athens in 2000.

Hugh's Restaurants and Businesses

Over the years, Hugh Acheson has opened many different restaurants and food businesses:

• The National: His second restaurant in Athens, opened in 2007.
• Empire State South: This restaurant opened in Atlanta in 2010. It closed in February 2023.
• Cinco y Diez: A modern Mexican restaurant in Athens, which was open for a short time in 2014.
• The Florence: An Italian restaurant in Savannah, Georgia, that opened in 2014 and closed in 2017. It used fresh local ingredients.
• Spiller Park: In 2015, Hugh opened this coffee shop in Ponce City Market. Spiller Park has grown a lot, with several locations now. Hugh is no longer involved with it.
• Achie's: Opened in 2018 at the Omni Hotel in Atlanta. It served Southern food, burgers, and snacks. It closed later that year.
• Ovide: In February 2021, Hugh opened Ovide in Sandestin, Florida. This restaurant mixes coastal food with French cooking styles.

In April 2024, Hugh announced he was selling his last remaining Georgia restaurant, Five and Ten, to a long-time partner.

Hugh on Television

In 2011, Hugh competed on season 3 of Top Chef Masters. This is a reality show where experienced chefs compete. He finished in fifth place.

After that, he was invited to be a judge on season 9 of Top Chef. This show features less famous chefs competing. Hugh also judged season 10 and Top Chef season 11. He also hosted and judged "Battle of the Sous Chefs" for Top Chef Masters.

In 2020, he appeared as a judge on the Canadian cooking show Wall of Chefs.

Cookbooks by Hugh

Hugh Acheson has written several cookbooks, sharing his recipes and cooking tips:

• A New Turn in the South: Southern Flavors Reinvented for Your Kitchen (2011)
• Pick a Pickle: 50 recipes for Pickles, Relishes and Fermented Snacks (2014)
• The Broad Fork (2015)
• The Chef and the Slow Cooker (2017)
• Sous Vide: Better Home Cooking (2019) - This book teaches home cooks about the sous vide cooking method.

Awards and Recognition

Hugh Acheson has won several awards from the James Beard Foundation, which is a very important award in the food world. He has been nominated nine times and won twice.

• In 2012, he won for "Best Cookbook in American Cooking" for A New Turn in the South.
• Also in 2012, he was a co-winner for "Best Chef, Southeast" for his work at Five and Ten.

In 2002, Food & Wine magazine named him one of the best new chefs in the United States.

Hugh's Family Life

Hugh Acheson was married to Mary Koon, who worked as an editor at the Georgia Museum of Art. They first met in middle school when Hugh lived in South Carolina. They reconnected in Canada and got married later. Hugh and Mary divorced in 2017, but they both still live in Athens, Georgia. They have two daughters named Beatrice and Clementine.

More Books by Hugh Acheson

• Sous Vide: Better Home Cooking
• The Chef and the Slow Cooker
• A New Turn in the South: Southern Flavors Reinvented for Your Kitchen
• Pick a Pickle: 50 Recipes for Pickles, Relishes, and Fermented Snacks
• The Broad Fork: Recipes for the Wide World of Vegetables and Fruits