Update: Foodies unite for chef Justin Sutherland, still hospitalized after boating accident
The Twin Cities culinary community continues to rally around chef Justin Sutherland of St. Paul’s Handsome Hog as he recovers from a serious boating accident.
Chefs and other prominent local residents — including the St. Paul mayor — attended a news conference on Thursday to offer their support to the chef and TV personality.
Mayor Melvin Carter, who called Sutherland a friend, said the chef is “someone who makes the food world all over the globe stop and take notice that St. Paul is on the map.”
Chef Brian Ingram, owner of Hope Breakfast Bar, donated more than $14,000 in sales from Thursday to Sutherland’s GoFundMe, established to help pay for the chef’s medical expenses. Like many others in the hospitality industry, Sutherland did not have health insurance at the time of the accident.
Sutherland fell off a boat and into its propeller while reaching for his hat on the St. Croix River near Stillwater on July 3, and will be in the hospital for the foreseeable future.
Family members say his recovery is going as smoothly as could be expected at this point. His left arm is broken, as is his jaw, which is wired shut. He also has many lacerations on his head and face from the propeller.
The GoFundMe has raised close to $195,000 in just a few days. Family members say they will start a 501(c)(3) with any leftover money after his bills have been paid. Celebrities from Andrew Zimmern to Rachel Ray to “Top Chef” judges Padma Lakshmi and Tom Colicchio have offered support via social media and/or donations to the fund.
Sutherland is the executive chef at Handsome Hog in St. Paul and a culinary director for Madison Hospitality.
His TV career has been taking off in the past few years. In addition to winning an “Iron Chef America” battle, Sutherland was in the top six chefs on Bravo’s “Top Chef” season 16 and currently hosts “Fast Foodies” on TruTV with other “Top Chef” alums Jeremy Ford and Kristie Kish. He’s also host of the TruTV web series “Taste the Culture.”
For more information or to donate to the GoFundMe, go to gofundme.com/f/chefjustinsutherland-medical-recovery-fund.
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