Clarendon-Raised Chef Darian Bryan Wins FOX’s Next Level Chef Season 5

Darian Bryan, the Jamaican-raised chef who now works out of New York, has been named winner of Season 5 of FOX Television’s North American cooking competition Next Level Chef.

Bryan, 34, spent his early years in Clarendon with his mother, cookshop operator Athea Allen, and five sisters. He moved to the United States in 2012 and now lives in Buffalo, New York.

The victory gives him US$250,000 and a year of guidance from the programme’s judging team: Gordon Ramsay, Nyesha Arrington and Richard Blais. During the 16-episode season, Bryan competed as a member of Team Blais.

In the finale, which aired earlier tonight, he went up against Team Nyesha’s Connor Caine, 30, and Team Ramsay’s Cole Lawson, 31, for the championship.

The finalists had to deliver three dishes: an appetiser, a fish course and a meat entrée. The panel gave unanimous approval to the plates presented.

Bryan claimed the title with a menu featuring pepper lobster as the appetiser, sea bass escovitch for the fish course, and seared duck breast as the meat dish.

Speaking with The Gleaner last week, Bryan said, "Being Jamaican influences every single thing I do in the kitchen. Jamaican cuisine is built on bold flavours, creativity, resourcefulness and heart. Growing up in Jamaica taught me how to cook with feeling, not just technique."

"Whether I’m cooking fine dining French cuisine, Italian dishes, Asian-inspired plates or modern American food, there’s always a piece of Jamaica in it somewhere," he added. "Jamaicans know how to balance spice, sweetness, smoke, acid, herbs and soul in a way that’s hard to teach. That heritage allows me to approach food differently and confidently in competitive culinary spaces."

Bryan and his wife, Jessica, operate Bratts Hill, a two-format restaurant that offers fast-casual service in the daytime and fine dining at night. Jessica is the restaurant’s director of operations.

The couple have two children, Darian Junior and Nina.