Rooted in Michigan: From White Lake to Top Chef
Growing up in St. Clair Shores and stepping into restaurant kitchens at age 14, James Rigato was driven by an intense curiosity for Michigan's rich agricultural bounty. At age 26, he launched The Root Restaurant & Bar in White Lake, an ambitious suburban establishment that shocked the regional food scene by winning the 2012 Detroit Free Press Restaurant of the Year award.
Rigato's talent earned him a national spotlight on Bravo's Top Chef Season 12 in Boston, where he proudly represented Metro Detroit's food community with creative, ingredient-driven dishes.
Mabel Gray & Hazel Park's Culinary Awakening
In 2015, Rigato opened Mabel Gray inside a modest former diner on John R Road in Hazel Park. Abandoning traditional static menus, Mabel Gray introduced an ever-changing handwritten chalkboard menu built entirely around what local farmers harvested that week, wild Michigan mushroom foraging, and Great Lakes fisheries.
Mabel Gray quickly became a pilgrimage site for food lovers across North America, receiving multiple James Beard Foundation Award nominations and helping catalyze Hazel Park into one of Metro Detroit's most exciting dining districts.
In His Own Words
"Michigan is one of the most agriculturally diverse states in the nation. At Mabel Gray, our job is simple: respect the farmer, honor the season, and give people an authentic taste of where they are."
— James Rigato
Career Timeline
Opens The Root Restaurant & Bar in White Lake, winning Detroit Free Press Restaurant of the Year at age 26.
Competes on Bravo's Top Chef Season 12 (Boston), showcasing Michigan's culinary identity to a global television audience.
Launches Mabel Gray in Hazel Park, converting a former diner into a Michelin-caliber, weekly changing hyper-seasonal bistro.
Earns multiple James Beard Award nominations for Best Chef Great Lakes and elevates Hazel Park into a top regional dining corridor.
Celebrates over a decade of championing Michigan farmers, foragers, and fishermen at Mabel Gray.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is James Rigato?
James Rigato is a celebrated Metro Detroit chef, restaurateur, Top Chef alumnus, and multiple James Beard Award semifinalist best known as owner and chef of Mabel Gray in Hazel Park.
What makes Mabel Gray in Hazel Park unique?
Mabel Gray features an ever-changing hand-written chalkboard menu driven entirely by Michigan's agricultural seasonality, local farm produce, wild foraging, and Great Lakes seafood.
What early achievement launched Chef James Rigato's career?
At just 26 years old, Rigato opened The Root Restaurant & Bar in White Lake, earning Detroit Free Press Restaurant of the Year honors in 2012.