What’s cookin’, chef? We had the chance to talk with BJ Lieberman, chef at Chapman’s Eat Market + a James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef: Great Lakes.
What was your journey to becoming a professional chef?
I went to culinary school when I was 25 and started working for Sean Brock after he won his James Beard Award. I was a part of opening Husk in Charleston, and that restaurant exploded. Then I moved to DC to help Aaron Silverman open Rose’s Luxury. We opened three restaurants in DC and I realized I was ready to do my own thing. We moved here in 2019 and signed the lease for Chapman’s.
What does this recognition mean to you?
It is really nice to be recognized that we’re doing the right things. This isn’t why we do what we do, this is a side effect. We set out to make good food and create an inclusive environment. If we can be a good restaurant for the greater Columbus area and make people happy, that is all we want.
