B.J. Lieberman finds work-life balance in Columbus, Ohio

B.J. Lieberman grew up in Washington, D.C., and worked in restaurants up and down the East Coast before settling down in his wife’s hometown of Columbus, Ohio. 

He had developed a reputation as a capable chef working at Husk in Charleston, S.C., under Sean Brock and running the kitchen at Rose’s Luxury in D.C. In Columbus, he opened Chapman’s Eat Market during the pandemic in 2020 and used the restrictions of the time to fine-tune his style. 

The restaurant was a success, being named one of the Top 50 Restaurants in America by The New York Times and crowned best restaurant in Columbus three years in a row by Columbus Underground.

In 2022, Lieberman tried his hand at running a jazz lounge with the opening of Ginger Rabbit, contributing considerably to the nightlife scene in the city’s Short North Arts District. Last Summer he opened Metsi’s Wood-Fired Italian, also in the Short North, and shortly thereafter closed Chapman’s once its five-year lease expired.

Lieberman recently discussed his journey, his approach to cooking and his outlook on working while also raising a child and living his life. 

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Menu Talk is a collaboration between Restaurant Business Senior Menu Editor Pat Cobe and Bret Thorn, senior food & beverage editor of Nation’s Restaurant News. You can subscribe to it wherever you listen to podcasts.

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