ABOUT DJ CHEF

Overview

DJ CHEF “The Chef That Rocks!” is the only entertainer who simultaneously cooks and deejays for special events across the world. His culinary point of view remixes American cooking by updating classic dishes with a modern, creative, and sometimes healthier twist.

Since 2003, DJ CHEF has been changing the landscape of the culinary industry through a simple business recipe— spin the beats while cookin’ the treats. That
experience and determination guided him to be hailed as a pioneer and innovator, successfully fusing his two passions and becoming a national crowd pleasing
culinary entertainer. He recently won Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen and will be on Supermarket Stakeout in Summer, 2021.

He has co-hosted the World Food Championship in Las Vegas with “Man vs Food” star Adam Richman, performed at the Nokia Lumia launch party at the Playboy club and made an appearance DJing with Jersey Shores Snooki at the iHip Headphones booth at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. He is the official DJ, chef, and MC for the New York Knicks John Starks Foundation and New York Jets
Marty Lyons Foundations charity events. 

History 

DJ CHEF’s great grandfather, affectionately referred to as “Poppy,” has been an inspiration and motivation throughout his life.

Poppy always ran green markets. In the 1920s he had a small store in Harlem, NY, before migrating to Long Beach in 1935 to open King Kohen (the former site of today’s Stop & Shop. CHEF would visit the fresh fruit and vegetable market every day with his grandmother, Poppy’s daughter. He’d run around, grab fresh produce, and Poppy would explain the benefits of each piece of produce. Poppy took pride in what he sold and cared that each child on the block had fresh fruit to eat. It was a passion that lasted until his death at 90 years young.

While CHEF was only 18 at the time, Poppy’s lessons live on— provide for your family, love what you do, and have a passion for others.

Early Career

CHEF began deejaying at house parties when he was just 15 years old and, a few years later, he took on a job as a prep cook during week. After graduating high school, at the suggestion of his catering boss, CHEF enrolled at the New York Restaurant School in New York City. There, he earned his chef toque and went on to train under top chefs such as Bobby Flay, Matthew Kenney, and John Tesar, and in other fine kitchens throughout the NYC.

Eventually, CHEF made the decision to return to Long Island where he helped local restaurants achieve rave reviews for his cooking and decadent desserts. His dream of becoming a great chef was becoming a reality within local media outlets like News 12 and Newsday, and then The New York Times. From here, he began catering private parties. In time, more and more clients began interacting with him in the kitchen, asking culinary questions, and partaking in the fun.

DJ CHEF is Born

After years in the restaurant scene CHEF took & job as a corporate chef with Sodexho-Marrriott & ran the food services for big companies like Pfizer, McCan Erickson, and Cablevision. Eventually, company executives requested his culinary services for private events. But DJ CHEF soon realized that the private parties he was catering needed more than food, they needed an atmosphere.

After the launch of the Food Network, food became a source of entertainment. With CHEF’s new weekend hustle, catering executive events, he set out to mix his passion for music and food into a new recipe for success— for himself and his clients. That’s when he began deejaying while preparing gourmet meals and created something entirely new— a cooking party. From then on, he became known as DJ CHEF – “The Chef That Rocks”.

DJ CHEF’s unique talents brought him to the forefronts of the entertainment industry, performing at celebrity soirées including Christie Brinkley, B. Smith’s Blue Moon BBQ and James Blunt CD release party. He has traveled as far as Dubai for Create & Barrels 1 Year Anniversary Celebration at Dubail Mall, Beverly Hills BMW Holiday Party to Pay Pal’s 360 event in Laguna Beach. DJ CHEF is an in demand entertainer for food festivals he has performed & hosted @ South Beach Wine & Food Festival, World Food Championships Las Vegas, Hot & Spicy Food Festival in Toronto & Philly Cooks.

He went on to appear on television segments such as Food Network’s “What’s Hot!, What’s Cool!,” MTV’s Celebrity Spring Break Style special with Lindsay Lohan, MSNBC’s Entertainment Hot List, Discovery Channel’s Party Planner with David Tutera, FUSE TV’s One Year Anniversary live on IMX, What’s Hot in the Hamptons with Gina Glickman, and an NBC News feature on the hottest trends in entertainment at the Biz Bash Event Style Show.

Accolades and Non-Profit Work

Honored by the New York Restaurant School, inducted into their Hall of Fame for achievement and innovation in the culinary field.
Honorary Chef, March of Dimes Star Chef’s Gala.
Marty Lyons Foundation
John Starks Foundation
Victor Green Foundation
Joe Namath Celebrity Golf Outing
Chicago International Home Show Charity After Party with Guy Fieri
American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women luncheon
Island Harvest Taste of Harvest
Food Network “Whats Hot! Whats Cool!”
Food Network Cutthroat Kitchen Champion
The Knot Best Bachelorette Bachelorette Party
Brides of Long Island Diamond Award honoree
Model Citizens Magazine honoree
LIWeddings.com Best Party Party
Elite Daily Best Birthday Party Idea
Buzzfeed “Best Badass Bachelorette Party Ideas”
News 12 “Whats Hot in the Hamptons”

Other Notable Performances

South Beach Food & Wine Festival
World Food Championship
Atlantic City Food & Wine Festival
NYC Food & Wine Festival
New York Culinary Festival
Toronto Hot & Spicy Food Festival
Hamptons Home Show
Dubai Crate & Barrel Anniversary Celebration
NWI Food Truck Festival in Indiana
Chicago Chef’s Ball at Bella Lounge
Biz Bash Expo NYC
Texas Produce Association’s Taste of Summer
Chocolate Expo Long Island NY
NY Bar Show
Stormville Food Truck Festival
Long Beach International Film Festival
Consumer Electronics Show Las Vegas