Chef Eric Austin was born in Indianola, Mississippi, one of the poorest states in the nation, during the heart of the civil rights movement. This was a time when families had to make ends meet, sometimes having to feed 8 or more people for little more than two or three dollars an hour. He began cooking with his grandmother when he was 8 years old.
After returning to the States he began his tours of duty throughout the South at The Peabody Hotel (Memphis),
La CouRouge (Nashville), Beale Street Cafe (Memphis), Commanders Palace (New Orleans), Brennan's Steak House (New Orleans) and The White Rose Cafe (Mississippi).
Minneapolis tours include: The Loring Cafe, Jason McClean Owner, Cafe Un Deux Trois, Micheal Morse Owner, Vincent Francois Executive Chef, Minneapolis Cafe, David Fhima Owner, The California Cafe, Steve Vermillion Executive Chef and Dixie's Calhoun, Joe Gentile Executive Chef.
Chef Eric Austin is the founder of Chef E's Soul Food and Blues and Big E's Soul Food Restaurant voted
Mpls/St Paul Magazine's "Best New Restaurant" award 2002, March of Dimes "Star Chef" and "Peoples Choice Awards" as well as being voted one of the Twin Cities top 13 Four-Star Chefs by The Star Tribune article 2004, AOL's City Guide customer's poll voted “Best restaurant on Eat Street” “ Best places to warm up to” 2005.
Chef Eric Austin continues in his endeavor to become synonymous with the term Soul Food in the Twin Cities
and beyond...
His love of food took him to the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY where he was taught all aspects of fine food preparation and kitchen management including creative menu design, French influence and techniques in cooking, equipment use and proper kitchen maintenance, and fine dining food preparation (French Cooking). He completed his internship at New York City's famed Le' Cirque Restaurant and Union Square Cafe.
Other tours of duty included The Manetta House (Greenwich Village),
