Shawn McClain Instagram Twitter Location: Grosse Ile, Michigan Shawn McClain is a renowned American chef, restauranteur, and founder of McClain Camarota Hospitality. Named one of Food & Wine’s “superstar chefs,” he won the 2006 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Midwest for his innovative seafood restaurant Spring in Chicago. His portfolio of celebrated dining concepts includes the award-winning Sage, Five50, Libertine Social, and Highlands Detroit. Experience Midwesterner Shawn McClain first gained national prominence for his signature blending of global and Western influences at Trio restaurant in Evanston, Illinois, earning him four-star reviews from the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times. He went on to develop a variety of highly successful restaurant concepts, from fine dining to pizzerias to gastropubs in Chicago, Detroit, and Las Vegas. In addition to Food & Wine, McClain’s work has been featured in The New York Times, Bon Appetit, the Los Angeles Times, and Esquire, which honored him with “Chef of the Year” in 2001. He appeared on Food Network’s Iron Chef America in 2012, winning an epic battle against chef Marc Forgione. Education Shawn McClain studied business and commerce at Miami University and graduated from Kendall College in Chicago with a degree in culinary arts. 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.