In 2007, Sawyer moved to Cleveland and earned the Rising Star Chef award from both Restaurant Hospitality and GAYOT while working at Bar Cento, named Northern Ohio Live’s Best New Restaurant. With a blossoming career and growing recognition, Sawyer decided to pursue his lifelong dream of opening his own restaurant, quickly putting Cleveland on the culinary map with his flagship restaurant The Greenhouse Tavern, a French and seasonally inspired gastropub, as well as other local establishments, Noodlecat and Trentina. Returning to his birthplace of Chicago in 2020 was a true homecoming for Sawyer.
A destination where guests and locals can revel in cultural immersion with inspired food, drink, art and music, Adorn celebrates international culinary creativity starring local ingredients and a decidedly Midwestern perspective that offers a taste of what gives Chicago its unique vibrancy. Sawyer’s extensive list of accolades include being honored as a recipient of Food & Wine Magazine’s Best New Chef award in 2010. In 2013, he was named as a James Beard Award finalist in the Best Chef: Great Lakes category, before achieving the prestigious award in 2015. Chef Sawyer has also made several national television appearances, including “Iron Chef America,” “Dinner Impossible,” “Unique Eats,” “Best Thing I Ever Ate,” “Chopped” and “Iron Chef: Gauntlet” and “Cleveland Hustles.” When Chef Sawyer is not in the kitchen, he is surrounded by his family, including his wife Amelia, son Catcher, daughter Louisiana, and dogs Potato and Vito.
An avid cyclist, Sawyer can often be seen exploring the city or commuting to and from the Hotel on wheels. He is a tireless supporter of the green movement, local agriculture, and sustainable businesses. Sawyer speaks to audiences around the country about the importance of sustainability and the green movement specifically pertaining to the food industry. Sawyer has appeared on TEDx to discuss sustainability and many other issues facing our country.
