CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - The owner of several South Side restaurants sees himself more than a chef. He says he's a storyteller.
Erick Williams is the chef and owner of the Virtue Hospitality Group. He opened his flagship restaurant Virtue, located at 53rd and Harper in Hyde Park, in 2018.
The Virtue Hospitality Group now operates five restaurants.
He told the WBBM Noon Business Hour he’s busy in the kitchen and in the office.
“I have my fair share of work to do both at the stoves and in the office,” Williams said.
Williams is commemorating Black History Month with a five-course dinner of contemporary African cuisine with celebrity chef Alexander Smalls.
“This guy is the only chef, not just Black chef, but only chef to have both a Tony, Grammy and James Beard award,” Williams said.
The dinner is Feb. 22.
Williams believes a restaurant is more than just a place to eat. He said it's a celebration of cuisine and the culture that inspired it.
“Part of what we do is tell the story of the food that came here via the South through the Great Migration, so we cook southern food, and, many times, we’re inspired by the African diaspora,” said Williams.
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