Two-time James Beard Award-winning Chef Mashama Bailey achieved critical acclaim with her restaurant, The Grey, in Savannah, Georgia. Two years ago she opened Diner Bar in Austin where her Southern fare is served from the ground floor of The Thompson Hotel. Most recently she set her sights on Paris, home of her newest restaurant.
While her career is layered, its start was simple. She tells Austin Lifestyle, “Acts of service is what drew me into cooking," and says her inspiration was from moving to New York as a child and being exposed to several cultures all at the same time. “It had a heavy impact on my palette,” she shares, adding, “My food is noticeably international due to this experience. Moving to New York is when I realized how much I really liked the experience of setting the table with my grandmother, shopping, preparing, sharing. It all started to make sense to me. It gave me a sense of warmth.”
In her episode of Netflix "Chef's Table," Chef Bailey's connection to her Southern roots shines as she explores the diversity of Savannah, from its everlasting Southern live oaks and vast African American history to scenes of the chef fishing for oysters in the marshes and preparing communal meals. These experiences highlight her integration of diverse and local flavor, all set against the backdrop of The Grey.
Expanding to Austin she says was “pure coincidence,” yet notes, “it felt really familiar like Savannah. We loved the college vibes, the music, food and comedy.” Visiting The Diner Bar, guests can indulge in a hearty burger, Southern grits or savor fresh oysters, reminiscent of Savannah's coastal charm.
Charting a path for herself through the south in Georgia to New York's bustling streets, Austin's vibrant scene, and now the arrondissements of Paris, Chef Bailey is further cementing her legacy as a global culinary trailblazer.