Rising Star Houston Chef Grant Gordon Dies

Chef Grant Gordon, one of the most well-known and respected chefs in the Houston restaurant community, died Monday in his home at the age of 28. The cause of death has not yet been confirmed. Gordon was a promising young chef who was quickly rising to the pinnacle of culinary success with several accolades under his belt, including a place in Forbes' "30 Under 30 in Food and Wine" in 2012, as well as being named a semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation's Rising Star Chef of the Year award.

Grant, a former executive chef at Tony's in Houston where he earned a rare four-star review, had just recently announced plans to open a new restaurant in Montrose.

"I enjoyed being a mentor to him," Tony Vallone, Grant's former mentor, told the Houston Chronicle. "I'm very sad over this tragic news. He loved to learn. His mind was open. He was a great student and had a quest for knowledge."

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Joanna Fantozzi is an Associate Editor with The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter@JoannaFantozzi