# Gerald Sombright > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Gerald_Sombright > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Gerald_Sombright.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Sombright > Source revision: 1353753118 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Gerald Sombright** (born c. 1980) from [St. Louis, Missouri](/source/St._Louis,_Missouri), is the first Black man in the United States to receive a [Michelin Star](/source/Michelin_Star). He has appeared on several shows, including *[Top Chef](/source/Top_Chef)*, Food Network's *The Globe*, and Guy Fieri's *[Tournament of Champions](/source/Tournament_of_Champions_(TV_series))*. Sombright is a contributing writer for *[Food & Wine](/source/Food_%26_Wine)* magazine and has headlined a dinner at the [James Beard House](/source/James_Beard_House). As of 25 October 2025, he is one of only six Black executive chefs in the world with a Michelin Star.[1] ## Early life and education Sombright was born in St. Louis, Missouri[2] circa 1980. He was raised by a single mother and recounts helping to make dinner on many nights.[3] He credits helping to make dinner and being surrounded by food while at his grandmothers house for developing an interest in cooking.[4] ## Career In 1999, Chef Sombright began his career at 19 years old as a dishwasher and prep cook at the [Westin Hotel](/source/Westin_Hotels_%26_Resorts) St. Louis at Cupples Station.[2] He worked through the ranks, eventually becoming [chef de cuisine](/source/Chef_de_cuisine) in his 20s. Sombright then moved on to Annie Gunn's Smokehouse and Market in St. Louis, where he worked under Chef Lou Rook.[5][6] He has worked at two [Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts](/source/Four_Seasons_Hotels_and_Resorts), including the [Four Seasons Baltimore and Residences](/source/Four_Seasons_Baltimore_and_Residences) where Sombright worked under Chef Clayton Miller at Wit and Wisdom, the hotel's signature restaurant,[2] and PB&G at the Four Seasons Resort in Orlando.[7] In 2016, Sombright appeared on season 14 of [Top Chef](/source/Top_Chef:_Charleston) in [Charleston, SC](/source/Charleston,_SC). He was eliminated after losing the "Sudden Death Quickfire Challenge" to John Tesar, who he would later join at [Knife & Spoon](/source/Knife_%26_Spoon).[8] The episode was controversial with fans due to the filming location of the Sudden Death challenge, [Boone Hall](/source/Boone_Hall) – a plantation.[9][10] After Top Chef, Sombright began working at Ario, a steakhouse specializing in dry-aged beef,[11] and at Tesoro, a Mediterranean restaurant that is part of the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort. On July 27, 2017, the James Beard House hosted a dinner that Sombright headlined named "Beachside Glamour"[12] Tesar and Sombright worked together several times before opening Knife & Spoon, once at a wine auction dinner that Tesar headlined and again at a dinner hosted by Ario named "Truffles on the Gulf".[11] In 2020, Sombright and Tesar opened Knife & Spoon in the [Ritz-Carlton](/source/Ritz-Carlton) Orlando, Grande Lakes.[13] In late 2022, the Dunes of Naples, a private residential community, announced that Sombright would become the head of the community's culinary operations. The role included managing the club's five restaurants: the Royal Palm Room, the Terrace, the Tiki Bar, the resort-style pool, and Sandbar.[5] As of 25 October 2025, Sombright is a contributing writer for Food & Wine magazine,[14] a level 2 [Wine & Spirit Education Trust](/source/Wine_%26_Spirit_Education_Trust) sommelier,[15] and the executive chef of the Dunes of Naples culinary program.[5] ## References 1. ["Where are the Michelin stars for black chefs? Only 6 in the world have one"](https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3231872/just-6-michelin-stars-black-chefs-fine-dining-focus-and-underrepresentation-african-cuisines-make). *South China Morning Post*. Bloomberg. 23 August 2023. Retrieved October 25, 2025. 1. ["Gerald Sombright · Celebrate Jacques"](https://www.celebratejacques.org/chef/gerald-sombright/). *Celebrate Jacques*. Retrieved October 25, 2025. 1. ["Top Chef’s Gerald Sombright | Guys and Food"](https://guysandfood.com/top-chefs-gerald-sombright/). February 10, 2017. Retrieved 2025-10-26. 1. Reynolds, Shelby. ["Marco Island chef's big personality lands him spot on 'Top Chef'"](https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/local/2016/11/22/marco-island-chef-gerald-sombright-big-personality-lands-him-spot-bravo-top-chef/92518430/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z114946e003000v114946b0055xxd005565&gca-ft=221&gca-ds=sophi). *Naples Daily News*. Retrieved October 26, 2025. 1. ["The Club at the Dunes Welcomes Gerald Sombright As Executive Chef"](https://thegolfwire.com/dunes-gerald-sombright-chef/). *The Golf Wire*. 29 November 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2025. 1. ["Florida chef appears on Discovery+ show "The Globe”"](https://www.wtsp.com/article/features/great-day-live/florida-chef-appears-on-discovery-show-the-globe-ritz-carlton-orlando/67-b699e9f1-71ce-4d7a-8b48-e07b1ac0700d). *wtsp.com*. 26 July 2021. Retrieved October 26, 2025. 1. Smith, Liza (7 April 2016). ["Kitchen Confidential: Chef Gerald Sombright"](https://www.naplesillustrated.com/kitchen-confidential-chef-gerald-sombright/). *Naples Illustrated*. Retrieved October 25, 2025. 1. Sonne, Dorothea Hunter (9 August 2022). ["Chef Gerald Sombright Returns to Naples"](https://gulfshorelife.com/food-drink/chef-gerald-sombright/). *Gulfshore Life*. Retrieved October 25, 2025. 1. Forster, Tim (5 December 2016). ["‘Top Chef’ Faces Backlash for Filming at Charleston Plantation"](https://www.eater.com/2016/12/5/13845286/top-chef-plantation-charleston-boone-hall-slavery). *Eater* 1. Dehnart, Andy (8 December 2016). ["The problems with Top Chef Charleston’s visit to a plantation"](https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2016/12/top-chef-charleston-boone-hall-plantation/). *reality blurred* 1. Shearer, Lance. ["Time for truffles: Celebrity chefs make memorable meal at the Marriott"](https://www.marconews.com/story/news/local/2018/02/02/time-truffles-celebrity-chefs-make-memorable-meal-marriott/1082207001/). *Marco Island Florida*. Retrieved October 25, 2025. 1. ["Beachside Glamour | James Beard Foundation"](https://archive.jamesbeard.org/events/beachside-glamour-3). *archive.jamesbeard.org*. Retrieved October 25, 2025. 1. Fehr, Brooke (17 October 2020). ["Knife & Spoon Now Open at The Ritz-Carlton Grande Lakes in Orlando"](https://www.orlandomagazine.com/knife-spoon-now-open-at-the-ritz-carlton-grande-lakes-in-orlando/). *Orlando Magazine*. Retrieved October 25, 2025. 1. Sombright, Gerald. ["The First Black Man in America to Earn a Michelin Star Wants Black Men to Know There's a Place for Them in Fine Dining"](https://www.foodandwine.com/gerald-sombright-michelin-star-black-chefs-6752126). *Food & Wine*. Retrieved October 25, 2025. 1. ["Inside Look: Knife & Spoon One Year Anniversary Dinner Benefiting Parramore Kidz Zone | Tasty Chomps: A Local's Culinary Guide"](https://tastychomps.com/2021/10/inside-look-knife-spoons-one-year-anniversary-dinner.html). 8 October 2021. Retrieved October 25, 2025. --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Gerald Sombright](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Sombright) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Sombright?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.