Know more about James Kent, a highly influential and accomplished chef in New York City, who passed away at the age of 45 and have a look at his cause of death and wife
He passed away in New York on Saturday, June 15. The news of Kent’s passing was shared on Saga’s Instagram on Saturday evening.
New York City chef and restaurant owner James Kent cause of death, bio, age and wife
“We are heartbroken to share that James Kent passed away unexpectedly earlier today,” the statement read. As of now, there is no information regarding the reason behind Kent’s death.
James was the creative force behind a trio of renowned restaurants in a historic building in the Financial District: the two-Michelin-starred Saga, the sky-high bar Overstory, and the ground-floor Crown Shy.
In addition to these, he managed a growing collection of restaurants within his hospitality group. Previously, Kent held positions as chef de cuisine and sous chef at the three-Michelin-starred Eleven Madison Park.
Early in his career, Kent won the prestigious culinary competition Bocuse d’Or USA in 2010 alongside his commis, Tom Allan, and placed 10th at the Bocuse d’Or in Lyon, France, in 2011.
He graduated from Johnson & Wales in Providence, Rhode Island, and also worked at Babbo, Jean-Georges, and for Gordon Ramsay. As a teenager, Kent apprenticed at David Bouley’s namesake restaurant.
Success Story
Kent’s recent success story is the trio of restaurants in the Art Deco building at 70 Pine Street. Crown Shy, the first to open in 2019 with partner Jeff Katz, offers a Michelin-starred a la carte seasonal menu.
ℝ𝕀ℙ ℂℍ𝔼𝔽 𝕁𝔸𝕄𝔼𝕊 𝕂𝔼ℕ𝕋
We are overcome with sadness. Chef James Kent was such a bright light in this industry; an incredibly talented chef, wonderful friend, inspirational leader & genuine believer in the work we do at Culinary Agents. You will be remembered always. pic.twitter.com/ksprrfZYUE— Culinary Agents 🍍 (@culinaryagents) June 16, 2024
The cocktail bar Overstory, located on the 64th floor, opened in 2021 and is ranked among the top 20 of the World’s 50 Best Bars. Saga, situated a floor below Overstory, also opened in 2021 and boasts multiple terraces with breathtaking views.
Wife & Children
Before opening his trio of restaurants, Kent was the executive chef of the Michelin-starred Nomad from 2013 to 2017 under Daniel Humm and Will Guidara.
Prior to that, he was a sous chef and later chef de cuisine at Eleven Madison Park from 2007 to 2013. Reflecting on his time there, he said, “I walked in a young cook, and I walked out a chef and father.”
Kent is survived by his wife and two children. “My kid’s first restaurant visit was to Eleven Madison Park,” he recalled. Right after his firstborn’s first checkup, “I went in to prove that I really had a kid,” he joked.
Age 45 chef Jamal James Kent was married to wife Kelly and their children were Avery and Gavin.
In a recent interview, Kent discussed his emphasis on work-life balance following a series of panic attacks he experienced while working at Eleven Madison Park.
He began running with his wife, Kelly, and his staff, eventually forming the Crown Shy Running Club. He became an advocate for prioritizing mental health in the hospitality industry.
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