Saving Grace
He was the next best thing to Texan barbecue. He was well-loved, sought-after and considered to be a culinary treasure. After an easy win in the cooking competition show Top Chef, Paul Qui quickly rose to fame and bagged not just national adulation but industry accolades as well, including a prestigious Best Chef (Southwest) recognition by the James Beard Foundation. These were backed up by his own restaurants all over Austin and Miami. The then 36-year-old mild-mannered Filipino-American was on top of the world. Until he reached a conflict in his narrative.
On the morning of March 19, a dazed and confused Qui was handcuffed outside his east Austin apartment, brought to the local precinct and charged with assault and unlawful restraint that involved his then-girlfriend and her young son.
It was a cry for help. His. In hindsight, it was a downfall that was a
