Rising Star Chef Phillip Lopez of Square Root - Biography

Phillip Lopez never had to travel the world for inspiration––he had already lived it. An army brat, Lopez spent his childhood in Germany, France, Spain, Austria, Holland, and Puerto Rico, instilling him with an eclectic palate. Landing hisfirst job with New Orleans’ patron saint of food, John Besh, didn’t hurt his development either.

Lopez furthered his education under Michel Richard, before rejoining Besh at Restaurant August. He was then tapped as executive chef at the now-closed Rambla. Balancing technique and wonder, Lopez opened tour-de-force Root in 2011 to much acclaim, earning a StarChefs Rising Stars Award. New Orleans Magazine named Root “Best New Restaurant” and Eater NOLA named Lopez “Chef of the Year.” In 2013, Gambit Weekly’s placed him on their “40 Under 40” list for making New Orleans a better place to eat. His playful, modernist style continued with 2014’s Square Root, followed by the openings of The Test Kitchen, Part & Parcel Modern Delicatessen, Petit Lion, and Monkey Board.