Adrienne Cheatham grew up in Chicago, where she spent much of her childhood helping in the restaurants managed by her mother. At her parents’ encouragement, she first earned a degree in journalism and business from Florida A&M University before pursuing professional cooking. She later graduated from the Institute of Culinary Education in New York and began her culinary career at the three-Michelin-starred Le Bernardin. During eight years there, she rose to Executive Sous Chef and worked alongside Eric Ripert on Avec Eric and his cookbook.

In 2014, Cheatham joined Marcus Samuelsson’s restaurant group, helping launch Streetbird and Marcus’ Bermuda before becoming executive chef of Red Rooster Harlem. She gained widespread recognition in 2018 when she competed on Top Chef Season 15, finishing second. That success opened opportunities as a culinary educator, cookbook author, and Food Network judge. She also appeared in several Food Network shows, including BBQ Brawl, Chopped, Beat Bobby Flay, and Alex vs America.

 As of July 2026, Cheatham serves as one of the co-hosts of Food Network’s Kitchen Chaos. The show features a rotating panel of professional chefs and TV personalities reacting to viral cooking mishaps and culinary meltdowns. Beyond TV, Cheatham is a published author and culinary instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education.