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Today’s newsletter is presented by County of San Diego – Office of Emergency Services.
Good morning, San Diego.
With two George Foreman grills, a few hot plates and a dorm room that was meant to be demolished the year before, Quinnton Austin took it upon himself to cook daily for dozens of hungry friends, family members and strangers in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
Word spread fast that not only were there free plates, but they were delicious.
Coming from a family where everyone had a place in the kitchen, it wasn’t until his culinary skills were on display with limited supplies and unconventional kitchenware that his family took notice. Austin’s mother asked him what he wanted to do about it. He told her he wanted to stay in the kitchen and become a chef. She enrolled him in the Culinary Institute of New Orleans.
Nine years later, Austin was an executive chef at age 28, making him one of the youngest people to reach that pinnacle in the highly competitive NOLA restaurant industry.
“Lots of chefs live and die in the French Quarter,” Austin said. “But, I was young, and I’m just like, ‘Okay, what else is there?’… I wanted to test myself.”
Austin, better known as Chef Q, relocated to San Diego for Louisiana Purchase, the North Park restaurant where serves as executive chef.
You can find his recipes all across San Diego County now at restaurants part of Grind & Prosper hospitality group. Read more about Chef Q’s cuisine and story in our featured article today.
Thoughts? Opinions? Share them with us at news@timesofsandiego.com.
Today’s top story
Chef Q – How Hurricane Katrina and a decrepit dorm room forged a top San Diego chef
By Drew Sitton • Times of San Diego
With so many cooks in the family, it wasn’t until Chef Q crafted meals after Hurricane Katrina that loved ones recognized his talent.
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6 stories to start your day
Times of San Diego thanks our corporate sponsors. Find out more about sponsorships and advertising opportunities here.
Today’s opinion column
Opinion: How San Diego gun owners view Alex Pretti’s tragic death
This tragedy is being used to score political points and demand reactions from gun owners. That framing is dishonest, and it ignores decades of warnings we have made about government overreach.
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