Abraham Conlon Abraham Conlon is a James Beard Award-winning chef and co-author of The Adventures of Fat Rice: Recipes from the Chicago Restaurant Inspired by Macau (2016). He is the chef and co-owner of NoodleBird at Fat Rice and Fat Rice Productions in Chicago. Experience Abraham began cooking professionally at age 15, learning classic French techniques under the tutelage of renowned chefs Frédy Girardet and Gray Kunz before attending culinary school. He learned fusion techniques from acclaimed chef Norman Van Akens in Florida before venturing down to the Dominican Republic to head up Chez Asian Bistro. There he blended traditional Southeast Asian styles with local ingredients. As head chef of Augustine's in Virginia, Abraham was the youngest chef to receive a Four Diamon Award by AAA. He teamed up with fellow chef Adrienne Lo to start an underground supper club in Chicago. Their venture X-Marx served as a springboard for Fat Rice, which Bon Appetit named one of the "Best Restaurants in America" in 2013. Conlon and Lo renamed their flagship restaurant NoodleBird in 2021 and started a line of hot sauces. Education Abraham Conlon received his classical training at The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, graduating in 2001. About Food & Wine Food & Wine, a Dotdash Meredith Brand, is an award-winning online resource for anyone passionate about the culinary world. With rigorously tested recipes and the most trusted restaurant, drinks, culinary travel and home coverage, we inspire and empower people everywhere to discover, create, and devour the best in food and wine. Learn more about us and our editorial process.