Tiffani Faison

Coming Up

The line work and role shifts map a kitchen path built on pressure, repetition, and scale. Tiffani Faison moved from chef de partie at Daniel Boulud's signature Michelin-star restaurant in Wynn Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, to chef at Tao Asian Bistro in The Venetian, Las Vegas, Nevada, then into a summer 2006 cook stint at Straight Wharf in Nantucket, Massachusetts. Each stop put her in a different register of service and sharpened the range that would define the next phase. By 2007, the pace had hardened into executive responsibility. Tiffani Faison became executive chef at Todd English’s brasserie, Riche in New Orleans, Louisiana, and that same year served as cohost at Olivia Greek Isles culinary cruise. She later took executive chef responsibilities at Rocca Kitchen & Bar in Boston, Massachusetts, where she remained until 2010. The throughline is not reinvention but accumulation: city by city, room by room, a broader command of dining-room tempo and kitchen leadership. Boston is where the public profile widened across ownership and television without leaving the restaurant trade behind. Tiffani Faison was chef and restaurateur at Tiger Mama in Boston, Massachusetts from 2015 to 2021, then restaurateur at Orfano in Boston, Massachusetts from 2019 to 2022, and restaurateur at Tenderoni's Fenway in Boston, Massachusetts from 2022 to 2024. On screen, she appeared as competitor at Tournament of Champions in 2021, winner at Tournament of Champions, Season 3 in 2022, judge at Chopped: Casino Royale in 2022, and judge at Chopped: Grudge Match. Her current portfolio includes owner and head chef of Sweet Cheeks Q since 2011, judge of Chopped since 2020, restaurateur of Fool's Errand since 2018, restaurateur of Dive Bar since 2022, and restaurateur of Bubble Bath since 2022.

Where They Are Now

The present work is split across ownership, restaurant development, and judging, with no single room holding all of it. Tiffani Faison’s current slate includes Sweet Cheeks Q since 2011, Chopped since 2020, Fool's Errand since 2018, Dive Bar since 2022, and Bubble Bath since 2022. That spread shows a career that has moved from line discipline into long-term operational control, while keeping a foot in the evaluative side of the trade.

Signature

Tiffani's signature dishes include Heritage Pulled Pork, Brisket, Buttermilk Fried Chicken, and Biscuits with Honey Butter. The list points to food built for direct impact: familiar formats, handled with enough control to carry weight on the plate.

In Their Words “Working with him was kind of immersion by fire, quite frankly.” “I learned how to cook with my heart from my mom.”

Honors

Tiffani's honors include Boston's Best Chef (2022), James Beard Award Finalist for Best Chef: Northeast (2018), and Boston Magazine, Best Chef: Boston.