Rising Star Chef Josh Watkins of Carillon - Biography
Austin, TX
A native Austinite, Josh Watkins quit his Central Texas hometown for schooling at the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco. While stationed in the Golden State, Watkins worked on several restaurant openings with former high-profile San Franciscan Chef Reed Hearon—one of which, Rose Pistola, earned the James Beard Foundation’s “Best New Restaurant” award. Inspired by the wealth of seafood and high-quality, local produce San Francisco had to offer, Watkins decided to bring the same elevated, seasonal dining experience back home.
Returning to Texas, prodigal son Watkins first worked under Chef William Koval at The French Room in the Adolphus Hotel, nationally recognized as the best restaurant in Dallas by The New York Times and Bon Appétit. And finally making the move back to Austin, Watkins joined the culinary team at the historic Driskill Grill under the tutelage of nationally acclaimed chef—and fellow Rising Star—David Bull.
By 23, Watkins had worked his way up to chef de cuisine (even making an appearance on Food Network’s “Iron Chef America” alongside Bull). And by 2007, with Watkins at the helm as executive chef, The Driskill Grill earned consecutive five-star ratings. Watkins’ passion for farm fresh, ingredient-driven food led him to open Carillon at the AT&T Hotel and Conference Center in June of 2008. It’s there, in the seat of his native city, that Watkins’ daring approach to traditional foods and emphasis on local, sustainable ingredients finally blossomed into something entirely its own. And it's where he earned a 2012 StarChefs.com Rising Stars Chef Award. Carillon quickly caught the attention of food critics across the state, earning Watkins a four-star rating from the Austin-American Statesman, and gaining for Austin another talented chef invested in the city’s thriving local culinary scene.
2012 Austin-San Antonio Rising Stars
The Austin-San Antonio Rising Stars Winners: Why They Shine
Shaking Up the Central Texas Food Scene: Austin-San Antonio Travel
Fly on the Wall: 2012 Austin-San Antonio Rising Stars Honorees Dinner
2012 Austin-San Antonio Rising Stars Purveyors
Barbecue on the Hudson: 1st Annual StarChefs.com SMOKE@ICC
4th Annual Vitamix Challenge

Rising Star Chef Josh Watkins
@ChefJoshWatkins- Carillon
1900 University Avenue
Austin, TX 78705
(512) 404-3655
www.thecarillonresta.. - formerly of Driskill Grill
604 Brazos Street
Austin, TX 78701
www.driskillgrill.co..