Kia Damon

Kia Damon (born 1993) is an American chef. She rose to prominence after she was promoted to the role of head chef of Lalito in Manhattan's Chinatown at age 24. Damon went on to compete on and win an episode of Chopped in 2020. She is the culinary director for food magazine Cherry Bombe.

Career Damon was born and raised in Orlando, Florida, where she began her career working at various restaurants, fast food chains, and food trucks. Damon was always the only Black woman chef in every kitchen where she worked.

Damon was invited to be a contestant on Chopped, and went on to win the episode, which aired in August 2020. She stated that she had watched the show growing up and her father encouraged her to be a contestant on it when she was still a teenager.

Other work Damon provided food support at the George Floyd protests in New York, and cited chef and Civil Rights Movement activist Georgia Gilmore as a longtime inspiration.

She contributed writing to the 2020 nonfiction book Black Futures edited by Kimberly Drew and Jenna Wortham.

In August 2020 Damon founded s Kia Feeds The People, her forthcoming mutual aid initiative, which will provide free groceries in Bed Stuy.