The 'Top Chef Canada' star opened his new Afro-Caribbean restaurant in the Fairfax District last week
Jamaican-Canadian chef Adrian Forte was originally on the college football track. However, when injury struck, the food lover — whose maternal and paternal grandmothers ran a restaurant in his hometown of Kingston — decided to attend Toronto's Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts at George Brown College. After graduating in 2011, Forte opened some of Toronto's buzziest burger joints and served as a culinary producer for Iron Chef before becoming the first Black contestant on Food Network Canada's Top Chef. He placed as a semifinalist in Season 8, then followed it up with television appearances, brand partnerships and a cookbook, Yawd (Random House, 2022) — featuring over 100 modern Afro-Caribbean recipes.
On account of his ties in the entertainment industry, Forte worked as a private chef for friends including Drake, Alicia Keys and the late Virgil Abloh (who wrote the foreword for Yawd) — and served as the Culinary Director for Turks & Caicos' Emara Estate, the luxury private resort formerly owned by Prince.
Upon moving to L.A., he noticed a lack of Afro-Caribbean restaurants on the West Coast, so he teamed with founder/owner Sam Jordan (formerly of Olivetta and Issima) to open Lucia (luciala.com) in the Fairfax District. Lucia (meaning 'light") made its debut on May 28, and brings the bold flavors and rich culture of the Caribbean Island to L.A. through dishes like plantains, coconut fried chicken and jerked ribeye steak — paired with cocktails employing similar island-grown ingredients and spices and Caribbean rums.
Here are the spots where Forte's found big flavors in Los Angeles.
Curry PuffsCobi's
[Ordering] the curry puffs here is nonnegotiable! Light, flaky, buttery wrappers encase a potato filling that's rich with umami. There's a beautiful depth of flavor lifted by the tamarind ketchup, which adds just the right touch of sweetness and tang to balance it all out. It's the kind of bite that makes you pause mid-conversation.$14, 2104 Main St., Santa Monica, cobis.la
Fish CongeeLittle Fish
Everyone talks about the fried fish sandwich, and it's great, but the breakfast menu? That's the real gem. I go for the whitefish congee — it's silky, savory and perfectly seasoned, topped with pickled mushrooms and a marinated soy egg with the dreamiest jammy center. Their crispy nori potatoes ($9) don't get enough love, but they're the sleeper hit, especially alongside the grilled shrimp sausage breakfast sandwich ($12). Honestly, the whole menu slaps. Zero misses.$16, 1606 Sunset Blvd., Echo Park, littlefishechopark.com
Catalana RisottoMuse
My wife booked this spot for us recently, and it blew me away. It's got that perfect low-key, intimate energy that makes it ideal for date night. The chef-owner makes the rounds, chatting with every table, which brings a personal touch that's rare. We ordered the full menu but the prawn risotto was the standout. Luxurious, packed with flavor, and topped with a delicate prawn tartare. They even brought out the fresh prawn heads and offered to fry them up with a vibrant herb pistou — two knockout dishes from one pristine ingredient. It's thoughtful cooking, through and through.$90, 108 W. Channel Road, Santa Monica, musesantamonica.com
This story was originally reported by L.A. Mag on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
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