Shane Pritchett

Brandon Shane Pritchett died peacefully and with dignity, surrounded by his loving wife, family, and friends on May 25, 2023, in Los Angeles. He is survived by his wife Bellamie Blackstone Pritchett, their incredible almost two-year-old daughter Lilette Pritchett, parents Maurice and Janalynn Azevedo, brothers and sisters Mark and Dana Azevedo, Don and Nicki Camping, Tyler and Brynlee Azevedo, Christy Pritchett, many wonderful nieces and nephews and a loving and supportive extended family.

Shane was an accomplished chef. He trained at the New England Culinary Institute and while working at the Mark Hotel in New York City, he met renowned chef Emeril Lagasse, who was a regular hotel guest during tapings of his Food Network shows. Emeril recognized Shane’s talent and offered him a job at his New Orleans flagship restaurant, Emeril’s. As the Executive Sous Chef, Shane was proud to have introduced several brand-building offerings, including an extensive list of artisan cheeses and an in-house bread program.  Shane also traveled abroad and worked extensively in his early career including at The Oriental Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand and Le Neptune in Geneva, Switzerland. 

In 2004, Shane was named Executive Chef at the elegant and prestigious Emeril’s Delmonico restaurant in New Orleans. Shane expanded the menu to include such signature dishes as roasted whole branzino and burrata mozzarella, and was one of the first New Orleans chefs to introduce sous vide as a cooking technique. The following year, New Orleans CityBusiness food critic Tom Fitzmorris named Delmonico the best restaurant in New Orleans. 

Chef Shane’s influences came from traveling the world and his reverence for the techniques of regional American barbeque. Shane opened the first of his beloved Fat Hen Grocery concepts in May 2009, a “fine diner” concept that married his fine-dining skills with his love for the diner menu. Fat Hen Grocery was known for great breakfast items – including the signature “Womelette,” a phenomenal waffle-omelet hybrid – and, as a tribute to his Texas upbringing, real pit barbeque. In 2013, he moved to Los Angeles for a new adventure. He began his L.A. chapter at the hugely popular MESSHALL Kitchen as Executive Chef, and later became Partner in Blue Cow Kitchen. Ultimately, he found success in corporate roles, such as culinary research and development for the IHOP (IHOB) Burger roll-out and Mendocino Farms. 

Above all, Shane embodied an incomparable passion for life, whether it was in sharing the perfect pickle, a subtle bourbon, an aged cheese, or a perfectly honed chef’s knife. Nothing made him happier than cooking a beautiful meal to enjoy with friends he loved. His greatest joy, though, by far, was finding the love of his life in Bellamie, and the gift of their daughter, Lilette. Shane and Bellamie met in early 2018 and each soon knew they had found their forever person.  They shared a mutual love of travel, adventure, entertaining and family, and were married in a joyous ceremony surrounded by family and friends; Shane of course insisted on including a cheese fountain as part of the festivities. In 2021, their beautiful daughter Lilette was born. Shane was so proud to be Lilette’s Dad, he loved to read and play with her, lovingly calling her “monkey” so often that there were a few months she believed that was her actual name.  He was looking forward to the simple pleasures of fatherhood, including his dream of finely crafted bento-box lunches for her elementary school years.  Shane was already collecting small batch bourbons to gift Lilette on her 21st birthday, and wanted nothing more than to share his passions with her as she grew.

Shane’s life was cut far too short due to a degenerative lung condition. He endured two transplants with incredible courage in the face of so much uncertainty and his strength will forever be an inspiration to our family. Despite the best efforts of his team of caregivers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, he ultimately succumbed to the complications of his lung disease. The family wants to thank all of the doctors, nurses, and providers who took such great care of our beloved Shane, and also to honor the selfless, though unknown individuals and families who in their moment of despair thought of others, and chose to donate their loved one’s organs so that a stranger might survive. We will forever be indebted. Please consider choosing to be an organ donor or giving blood to help others in their time of need.

Shane was always passionate about food, family, and friends, spreading joy to those who had the opportunity to share in his gift. He created a loving home filled with wonderful memories and will be missed by so many.  We would love for you to share your stories of Shane with Lilette. Please email any thoughts, stories, or memories to Shane.Bellamie@gmail.com. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Shane’s name to the American Lung Association or the World Central Kitchen.

A celebration of life is planned for June 24, 2023 in Los Angeles- Details to follow.