Chef Lamar Moore was born and raised in the South Side of Chicago. Growing up in a large family, Moore learned the importance of cooking with love, taking care of people, and giving back to those less fortunate. Since catching the culinary bug as a young boy, Moore has dedicated years of blood, sweat and tears to get where he is. He graduated from Le Cordon Bleu in 2003 and decided to head West to San Jose, CA, where he secured a job at McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants.
After seven years, he returned to Chicago, where he became the sous chef for the Chicago Bears, before moving on to a series of restaurants working as a successful chef and restaurateur. Moore has had the privilege of cooking for Super Bowls, NBA Finals, and even Barack and Michelle Obama on multiple occasions, but he admits his grandmother will always be his first and biggest fan.
Moore has appeared on popular culinary competition shows like Bravo TV’s “Welcome To Waverly” and Food Network’s “Chopped.” “Beat Bobby Flay,” and Food Network’s “Vegas Chef Prizefight,” where he earned and won head chef of the $10 million steakhouse Bugsy & Meyer’s Steakhouse at Flamingo Las Vegas.
Most recently he served as Executive Chef at Bronzeville Winery. Chef Lamar is owner of Etc., which just opened in the Loop.