Hugh Acheson

Celebrity Chef; Restaurateur; "Top Chef" Judge

Travels From Travels From:
Athens, GA, USA
Speaking Fee Speaking Fee:
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Hugh Acheson Biography

Born and raised in Ottawa, Canada, Hugh Acheson started cooking at a young age and decided to make it his career after taking a very long time to realize that academics weren’t his thing. At age 15, he began working in restaurants after school and learning as much as possible. Today, Acheson's experience includes working under Chef Rob MacDonald where he learned stylized French cuisine, wine and etiquette at the renowned Henri Burger restaurant in Ottawa, and in San Francisco as the chef de cuisine with Chef Mike Fennelly at Mecca, and later as opening sous chef with famed Chef Gary Danko at his namesake restaurant, where he found a love of the simple, pure and disciplined.

Taking these experiences, Acheson developed a style of his own forging together the beauty of the South with the flavors of Europe and opening the critically acclaimed Athens, GA restaurant 5&10 in March of 2000.

In 2007, Acheson opened The National with fellow chef Peter Dale. Adding to his list of dining establishments, Acheson opened Atlanta restaurant Empire State South in the summer of 2010 and coffee shop Spiller Park Coffee in November of 2015.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 07/03/2024.

Hugh Acheson Speaking Topics

  • TASTY BITES: BLOGGING FROM THE CULINARY FRONTLINES

    If you can’t stand the heat then stay out of the kitchen. Hugh Acheson knows this better than anyone. As he moved up the Top Chef ranks, from contestant to judge to host, he’s learned a thing or two about what makes a great chef and a functional kitchen. And he’s ready to share it with the rest of us.

    The official Food Blogger for Bravo, Acheson dishes out the behind-the-scenes turmoil and success of TV’s most exciting cooking contests. Writing about food, health, and the cultural significance of various dishes, Hugh unwraps more than just a few ingredients on his blog. In this speech, he examines what it takes to become a top chef on TV and at home by using the right foods, and how he brings this message from the table to your tablet.

  • THE ART OF SOUTHERN COOKING: BRINGING CULTURE & TRADITIONS TO THE TABLE

    A Canadian transplant living in the South, Hugh Acheson has made a conscious effort to immerse himself in all things Southern. Chef Acheson has learned all about the culture, lifestyle, and traditions behind his favorite recipes and values the time-honored history associated with the South and its cuisine.

  • KEEPING IT LOCAL: SUSTAINING YOUR COMMUNITY

    Hugh Acheson’s mantra is: local first, sustainable second, organic third. He believes that food is the key to improving one’s community and making it sustainable. Chef Acheson advocates that taking small steps like shopping at your area farmer’s market, frequenting independent restaurants, learning to garden, and meeting the people who grow your food will make the world a better place, one community at a time.

  • GROWING RESOURCEFUL & HEALTHY CITIZENS

    Hugh Acheson believes in bringing life back to basics. Starting in his own back yard, he's working to revive home economics across the country to help teach today's youth practical skills like how to can and preserve, sew a button, and balance a checkbook. Additionally, Chef Acheson's focus on smart dietary choices that include lots of local fruit and veggies is vital to our future generations. His overall vision aims to instill community development along with skill building to yield healthy, productive members of society. Using his own personal and professional experience, Chef Acheson discusses how small steps will help achieve this big goal and encourage stronger, smarter citizens of the world.

  • INSIDE "TOP CHEF"

    Having made his through the ranks in the kitchen, Hugh Acheson moved on to be a fan-favorite contestant and judge on Bravo's "Top Chef." Currently the host of "Top Chef: Battle of Sous Chefs" and Bravo's official Food Blogger, Hugh shares stories from his well-rounded career in the kitchen, his rise to "Top Chef," and the full flavor of his talent and passion.

  • LIFE LESSONS FROM THE KITCHEN

    At Hugh Acheson’s restaurant 5 & 10, there are no managers; every employee takes equal responsibility for customer experience and the restaurant’s success. As the visionary force behind the restaurant, Chef Acheson worked to build a trustworthy team, carefully staffing and training each position to encourage ownership and authenticity. Emphasizing the importance of teamwork, Chef Acheson explains his unique approach to management.

Hugh Acheson Videos

  • Hugh Acheson: Salad demo from "The Broad Fork" | Food at Google ...
  • Hugh Acheson: Cooking from Scratch in a Modern World - YouTube
  • Chef Hugh Acheson on the New Flavors of the South - YouTube

Hugh Acheson Books

  • The Broad Fork: Recipes for the Wide World of Vegetables and Fruits
    The Broad Fork: Recipes for the Wide World of Vegetables and Fruits
  • A New Turn in the South: Southern Flavors Reinvented for Your Kitchen
    A New Turn in the South: Southern Flavors Reinvented for Your Kitchen

FAQs on booking Hugh Acheson

  • How do I book Hugh Acheson to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Hugh Acheson for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Hugh Acheson, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Hugh Acheson or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Hugh Acheson

    Speaking fees for Hugh Acheson, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Hugh Acheson are for live events and for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Hugh Acheson, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Hugh Acheson speak about?

    Hugh Acheson is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Authors, Celebrity Chef, Food & Beverage, Television & Film.
  • Where does Hugh Acheson travel from?

    Hugh Acheson generally travels from Athens, GA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Hugh Acheson’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Hugh Acheson for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Hugh Acheson for your next private or corporate function.
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Hugh Acheson is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as TASTY BITES: BLOGGING FROM THE CULINARY FRONTLINES, THE ART OF SOUTHERN COOKING: BRINGING CULTURE & TRADITIONS TO THE TABLE, KEEPING IT LOCAL: SUSTAINING YOUR COMMUNITY, GROWING RESOURCEFUL & HEALTHY CITIZENS, INSIDE "TOP CHEF" and LIFE LESSONS FROM THE KITCHEN. The estimated speaking fee range to book Hugh Acheson for your event is $20,000 - $30,000. Hugh Acheson generally travels from Athens, GA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Richard Blais, Tom Colicchio, Emeril Lagasse, Curtis Stone and Kevin Gillespie. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Hugh Acheson for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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