2020 Smith Fellow: Erick Williams

Erick Williams is the owner and executive chef at Virtue Restaurant & Bar in the heart of the Hyde Park neighborhood in Chicago. His work combines his background in fine dining, his love of Southern cuisine, and his studies of the Great Migration. As a Chicago native, Erick has embedded himself into the culinary scene beginning with his time as executive chef at mk The Restaurant in the River North neighborhood. Since opening in November 2018, Virtue has received national recognition, including a three-star review by the Chicago Tribune. He’s also been named one of “16 Black Chefs Changing Food in America,” by the New York Times.