Atlanta's Chef Kerby Morgan Jr Advances to the Quarterfinals in Favorite Chef Competition

ATLANTA - July 21, 2026 - PRLog -- Atlanta-based Executive Chef Kerby Morgan Jr. has advanced to the quarterfinals of the Favorite Chef competition, presented by celebrity chef and television personality Carla Hall. Morgan continues to climb through a national field of culinary professionals competing to raise funds and awareness for the James Beard Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to celebrating, supporting, and elevating the people behind America's food culture.

The public can cast a free daily vote for Morgan, or make a bigger impact by voting through a donation, with all proceeds supporting the James Beard Foundation's mission to lead chefs and the broader culinary industry toward a new standard of excellence.

"As a chef, entrepreneur, and creator, I've built my brand through hard work, creativity, and consistency," said Morgan. "Making it to the quarterfinals is confirmation that this vision is resonating far beyond Atlanta. Winning this competition would help me expand my business, produce higher-level food content, host immersive dining experiences, and continue creating opportunities through food. My goal is bigger than cooking meals — I want to build a brand that inspires people and represents culture through fusion cuisine."

About Kerby Morgan Jr.

Kerby Morgan Jr. is an Executive Chef and culinary operations leader with more than 17 years of experience across luxury hospitality, healthcare foodservice, and large-scale institutional dining. Born and raised in Oakland, California, Morgan has called Atlanta home for more than 20 years, where he has built a career defined by multicultural fusion cooking spanning Southern, Caribbean, West African, Latin, and Asian influences.

Morgan currently serves as Lead Chef, while also running his own private chef and catering business, Coastal Cuisine LLC, serving events for up to 500 guests. He is frequently quoted in Eat This Not That for his restaurant recommendations! A graduate of Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, Morgan also attended Clark Atlanta University. He remains active in Atlanta's food and lifestyle community as a content creator and brand collaborator, and continues to build platforms that support fellow chefs and hospitality professionals in growing sustainable culinary businesses.

About the Favorite Chef Competition

Since 2023, Favorite Chef has brought together seasoned chefs, home cooks, and creative foodies for a national competition benefiting the James Beard Foundation. The winner will appear in Taste of Home magazine, cook alongside Carla Hall on an episode of Chewed Up, and take home $25,000. Qualified contenders also have the opportunity to have a standout dish selected by the James Beard Foundation for feature at their 2026 annual Gala. To date, the competition has raised more than $12.9 million for the Foundation. Favorite Chef is operated by Colossal.org for DTCare, a nationally registered public charity that grants donations to the James Beard Foundation.

About the James Beard Foundation

The James Beard Foundation is a nonprofit organization with a mission to celebrate, support, and elevate the people behind America's food culture and champion a standard of good food anchored in talent, equity, and sustainability.

How to Support

Members of the public can support Chef Kerby Morgan Jr. in the Favorite Chef competition by voting at https://favchef.com/2026/kerby-morgan-jr. Visit the link for full voting details and deadlines. A free daily vote is available, and additional votes can be unlocked through a donation to the James Beard Foundation.

Media Contact
Email: contact@choosemepr.com
Instagram: @chefmorganjr