Justin Devillier was raised in Dana Point, California, a small beach town in South Orange County. He spent summers fishing for Yellowtail and Albacore tuna, and in the fall and winter he would dive for lobsters just steps from his front door. This bounty of local seafood inspired him to enter the culinary industry and after working in local restaurants right out of high school, he decided to focus all of his time on becoming a chef. In 2003, Devillier moved to New Orleans and cooked in the kitchens of Bacco, Stella and Peristyle. While at Peristyle, he worked with Chef Anne Kearny-Sands and learned the intricacies of French cuisine.In 2004, Devillier joined the team at La Petite Grocery, housed in a century-old building with a storied history, and became sous chef a year later. After Hurricane Katrina, he helped re-build La Petite Grocery’s infrastructure by managing the daily specials and training the new line cooks. In 2007 Devillier was promoted to Executive Chef, and in 2010 he and his wife Mia bought La Petite Grocery. Here, he puts his creative spin on traditional New Orleans cuisine with dishes like Turtle Bolognese and Blue Crab Beignets. Devillier has been named a James Beard Award finalist for Best Chef: South in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015, and was also named 2014’s “Chef of the Year” by New Orleans Magazine. In March 2014, Devillier and the team at La Petite Grocery proudly celebrated 10 years of operation at the restaurant. More recently, Devillier was named Best Chef: South at the 2016 James Beard Awards Gala.Devillier’s second restaurant, named Balise after the first French settlement at the mouth of the Mississippi River, opened in the Central Business District of New Orleans in early 2015. Set in a 19th century Creole townhouse, Balise features a menu that celebrates New Orleans as a port city and its unique access to a wide variety of ingredients.When Devillier has free time, he can be found fishing and hunting, or at the beach with his wife and two young daughters.Justin's Restaurant:La Petite Grocery (New Orleans, LA)
D.C. Chef Jose Andres enters Kitchen Stadium to challenge Bobby Flay to a succulent battle. Will Chef Andres take home the title of Winner, or will Chef Bobby Flay prove too much culinary prowess? Tune in to see whose cuisine reigns supreme!
Judges
Dr. Tim Ryan
Jeffrey Steingarten
Rene Syler
Challenger stats: Chef Andres
From: Mieres, Asturias, Spain
Restaurants: Cafe Atlantico, Jaleo, Zaytinya, Minibar by Jose Andres, Oyamel
Cuisine: Spanish cooking! Also, Greek, Turkish, Lebanese and Mexican. Minibar is where I let my imagination go free.
Interests: Barca, my family, good food and wine, technology and travel
Ideal secret ingredient: Cigalas, centollo or lobster
Culinary inspirations: Ferran Adria, Juan Mari Arzak, Martin Berasategui, Thomas Keller and all the guys who work with me.
Ideal judge: Ferran. It would be an honor to have my friend and mentor there.
Culinary secret weapon: Mortar and pestle, microplane, iSi bottle, Spanish olive oil
Favorite restaurant: Depends on my mood! Some days it would be French Laundry or El Bulli. Another day it would be Rompeolas or Rafas, or maybe something at La Boqueria in Barcelona.
Favorite food: Again, depends on the day! Sometimes jamon Iberico or fabada asturiana or soft shell crab. Other days I want centollo and sidra or cigalas a la plancha or watermelon and tomato or sea urchin or sashimi. Other days, nothing is better than pancakes and maple syrup with my girls. And sometimes you can't beat a good hamburger.
Food you won't go near: I can't think of any!
Weirdest thing you've ever eaten: I don't know! This depends on perspective, no? What is weird to me is normal to you! And visa versa. I guess people might think percebes (gooseneck barnacles) are weird. They look like something from the movie Beetlejuice.
Favorite food destination: Casa Gerardo in Asturias for fabada, Chesapeake Bay for blue crab, El Bulli for anything.
Alternative dream job: Soccer player, actor, playwright, astronaut or sailor