[3] Acheson's parents divorced when he was young,[2] and he was raised primarily by his father in the Manor Park and Centretown neighbourhoods of Ottawa,[3] with the exception of two years that he spent living with his mother and stepfather in the American cities of Clemson, South Carolina, and Atlanta, Georgia.
[2] Acheson took his first kitchen job when he was fifteen years old,[3] as a dishwasher at Ottawa's Bank Street Café.
[2][4] He subsequently worked at other well-known Ottawa restaurants, before moving to Montreal, Quebec, to attend Concordia University.
[4] In 1994, Acheson moved back to Ottawa with his future wife, Mary Koon, and began working at Café Henry Burger,[2] an iconic restaurant that closed in the 2000s after over 80 years of operation.
[5] At Henry Burger, Acheson learned about French cuisine, wine and etiquette under chef Rob McDonald.
[2][4] On the basis of his experience in French and Italian cuisine, Acheson became the head chef and manager at the Last Resort Grill upon moving to Athens.
[4] Following his wife's graduation, the couple moved to San Francisco, California, where Acheson took a job at restaurant Mecca.
[3][4] In the following years, his endeavors have included: In April 2024, Acheson announced his was selling his only remaining Georgia restaurant, Five and Ten, to long-time partner Peter Dale.