Dawn Burrell

Dawn Burrell

Executive Chef/Partner, Late August

Traveling the world with the USA’s Track & Field team ignited Chef Dawn Burrell’s deep love for the language of food. The 2000 Olympian eventually traded in her track spikes for a full-time culinary career, cutting her teeth with everyone from Chef Tom Aikens in London to Houston’s Monica Pope before landing a gig with Uchi Houston — a move that led to a sous chef position at its award-winning sister restaurant Uchiko in Austin. An Executive Chef title at modern Southern restaurant Kulture followed, where she honed her signature “global comfort” cooking style. Following three years at the helm of Kulture, Chef Dawn snagged her first James Beard nomination for “Best Chef: Texas” in 2020 before her eventual departure during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Throughout the pandemic, Burrell launched PIVOT — a chef-driven meal preparation service dedicated to assisting families with wholesome food options via prepared meals. The endeavor that has since morphed into a monthly pop-up series, serving as a test kitchen for Burrell’s future concepts and culinary musings. As Partner/Executive Chef of Late August — Burrell’s very first proprietary concept via Lucille’s Hospitality Group — she brings the soul of Afro-Asian flavors to the table with a summer 2021 debut. Chef Dawn will compete on the 18th season of Bravo TV’s hit show Top Chef, airing April 2021.