James Kent, a renowned chef and successful Manhattan restaurateur, passed away on Saturday, June 16, 2024, at the age of 45.
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His death was announced by Saga Hospitality Group, the holding company for his two restaurants, Crown Shy and Saga, and his cocktail bar, Overstory, all located in the same building in the Financial District of Manhattan.
The statement did not disclose the cause or location of his death.
Jamal James Kent was born in 1979. His mother was born in Rome, and his father was born in Tangier.
He grew up in Greenwich Village, where he worked in a restaurant owned by his uncle and his uncle’s best friend to support his family.
He later studied food service and culinary arts at Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island and participated in a study abroad program at Le Cordon Bleu in London and Paris.
Kent grew up in an Islamic household and, due to concerns about Islamophobia, used his middle name when applying for jobs.
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He became particularly well-known for his tenure at Eleven Madison Park, described by Pete Wells as “the equivalent of Harvard for ambitious young cooks.”
Kent’s culinary journey began in 1993 when, at the age of 14, his mother encouraged him to approach celebrity chef David Bouley.
In 2019, Kent opened his own restaurant, Crown Shy, in partnership with Jeff Katz, the general manager of Del Posto, an Italian restaurant in Manhattan that closed in 2021. Crown Shy received high praise, with The New York Times restaurant critic Pete Wells describing it as a “critic’s pick.”
In an interview with Bandit, Kent spoke about his work ethic and the personal challenges he faced, including a panic attack at work. He mentioned that running had helped him find balance in his life, giving him personal goals beyond his professional ambitions.
Saga Hospitality’s announcement of Kent’s death listed his survivors as his wife, Kelly Kent, and his children, Gavin and Avery.
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