Cincinnati chef and beloved community member Jimmy Gibson passed away Wednesday at the age of 63.
The Pennsylvania native arrived in Cincinnati in 1989 when hospitality industry executive Carl Bruggemeier brought him in to be the executive chef at The Phoenix downtown. After a little more than a year, he left to start the Ciao Baby Restaurant Group, and after expanding into Washington D.C. and New York City returned to Cincinnati to begin a 16 year on-again, off-again stint with the Jeff Ruby Restaurant Group, mostly as its corporate chef.
In December of 2011, Gibson opened JimmyG’s downtown, combining the best of his skills into a menu featuring huge, succulent, wood-fired hunks of aged beef, as well as internationally inspired dishes with an eclectic twist. Gibson left the restaurant in 2016 after issues with management.
Gibson has since relocated to Port Clinton, Ohio, where the Catawba Island Township Police Department confirmed to Cincinnati Enquirer that Gibson was found dead at his home.
Chefs, culinary enthusiasts, folks from the restaurant industry and beyond flooded social media with memories and sentiments after the news broke last evening.
Personally, before he left town years ago Jimmy Gibson was as good a friend as I had. Professionally he was the most creative talent that’s ever worked for me. Best chef in the city. ANY CITY !! 🙏
— Jeff Ruby (@TheRealJeffRuby) April 22, 2021