Spring Chef Collaboration | Sebastian White

Photo by: Diana Klimovich

For our spring chef collaboration, we welcome Sebastian White, whose work lives at the intersection of food, care, and presence.

His dish, Maitake Mushroom Toast, layers green garlic pistou, smoked and herbed ricotta, and crispy shallot on Publican seeded rye. Earthy, grounded, and quietly expressive, it reflects how Sebastian cooks: attentive to season, texture, and what is already there.

A trained psychotherapist and self taught chef, Sebastian’s early work centered on walking alongside youth navigating gang involvement, systemic neglect, and the quiet struggle to be seen. After the loss of his aunt, Gwen Barjon, and his father, William White, Jr., he transformed grief into purpose, founding The Evolved Network, NFP and Evolved Kitchen and Garden, LLC.

In 2024, he was named a Chef to Watch by InsideHook, championed by Chef Paul Kahan, featured in Mariano’s Chicago Chefs Cookbook, and recognized by Chicago Magazine, Modern Luxury, and CS Magazine. For Sebastian, recognition is never the point.

His cooking is about slowing down. Food and gardening become practices of care, remembrance, and dignity. A way of meeting people where they are and nurturing what is already growing.

Collaboration begins March 3.