Food

3 DC Chefs Are Finalists for People’s 2018 “Sexiest Chef Alive”

Three DC talents made the top 10.

Reverie chef Johnny Spero. Photograph by Scott Suchman

People magazine’s annual “Sexiest Man Alive” issue hits newsstands in November,  and as part of it they’re bringing back a newer feature: “Sexiest Chef Alive.” The list of ten finalists includes three—yes three!—DC names. There’s Johnny Spero of the newly opened ReverieHimitsu’s Kevin Tien, and Ghanian-American chef Eric Adjepong of pop-up dinner service/catering company Pinch & Plate.  

Himitsu’s chef/co-owner Kevin Tien. Photograph by Jeff Elkins

Perhaps after some backlash over People’s past lists of sexy chefs—many, many older white gentlemen—the lineup this year leans young and diverse. Well, diverse in men. The “Sexiest Chef Alive” competition doesn’t include women, and unlike the magazine’s larger beauty-ranking franchise (i.e. “Most Beautiful Woman”), there’s no female chef equivalent. Because: 2018. 

Chef Eric Adjepong of Pinch & Plate. Photograph courtesy of Chef Adjepong.
Chef Eric Adjepong of Pinch & Plate. Photograph of Chef Adjepong.

The winner will be announced during an hour-long Food Network special on November 1 at 8 PM. In the meantime the public is encouraged to cast their votes via Twitter @people and @peoplefood, using the hashtag #sexiestchef. 

*This post has been updated from an earlier version. 

Food Editor

Anna Spiegel covers the dining and drinking scene in her native DC. Prior to joining Washingtonian in 2010, she attended the French Culinary Institute and Columbia University’s MFA program in New York, and held various cooking and writing positions in NYC and in St. John, US Virgin Islands.