Marcus Samuelsson Group

Our Mission Statement

The Marcus Samuelsson Group was founded by award-winning chef, international restaurateur, and media personality Marcus Samuelsson and is led by longtime partner/ CEO Derek Evans. The Harlem-based minority-owned company is committed to creating outstanding culinary experiences, community support and thought-provoking storytelling that celebrates food, music, culture and art. From high-end through fast-casual dining to creative experiential events and multimedia content, the principles of culinary distinction, community, sustainability and inclusivity are the core elements that define this dynamic hospitality and media group.

Marcus Samuelsson

Award-Winning Chef, Restaurateur, Author, Activist

Marcus Samuelsson is the esteemed chef behind many restaurants worldwide, including Red Rooster Harlem and Red Rooster Overtown in Miami; Hav & Mar in the Chelsea Arts District; Metropolis at the Perelman Performing Arts Center in lower Manhattan; “Marcus” restaurants in Atlanta and New Jersey, plus several international locations including The Bahamas, Canada, and Ethiopia as well as numerous Streetbird and Vibe BBQ outlets in the US and Bahamas. Samuelsson was the youngest person ever to receive a three-star review from The New York Times. He has won eight James Beard Foundation Awards and was the guest chef for the Obama Administration’s first state dinner.

In 2023, Marcus earned an Emmy Award for the Short Form Program “My Mark.” He is a longstanding judge and TV personality on the hit Food Network show Chopped, head judge of Top Chef: Family Style, and an Iron Chef on Netflix’s rebooted Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend, and makes frequent appearances on Scandinavian TV. Samuelsson served as host and producer of the Seat at the Table audio series on Audible and co-host of This Moment podcast with Swedish rapper Timbuktu on Acast. He is the author of multiple books including The New York Times bestseller Yes, Chef: A Memoir as well as the critically acclaimed The Rise: Black Cooks and the Soul of American Food.

To complement his professional commitments, Samuelsson is co-chair of Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP), which focuses on helping underserved youth. He participates in lectures globally, most recently with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and The New York Times during Climate Week NYC 2024.

Follow Samuelsson on Instagram, Facebook, and X at @MarcusCooks and on TikTok at @Marcus_Cooks.