About DJ CHEF
DJ CHEF BIO
DJ CHEF “The Chef That Rocks!” is the only entertainer who simultaneously cooks and DJs 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 the early 2000s, 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 is currently shooting on his own television series with JBella / Bungalow Media.
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 the 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 to 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 DJ CHEF took a job as a corporate chef with Sodexho-Marriott and ran the food services for big companies like Pfizer, McCann 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 Dubai 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 and hosted at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, World Food Championships Las Vegas, Hot & Spicy
Food Festival in Toronto, and 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.
TELEVISION APPEARANCES
Food Network – Cutthroat Kitchen (Winner)
DISCOVERY CHANNEL – Party Planner with David Tutera
MTV – Celebrity Spring Break with Lindsay Lohan (co host)
MSNBC – Entertainment Hot List
FUSE – IMX Anniversary Party
WPIX – PIX Morning News “Friday Backyard
BBQ” with Linda Church & Jill Nicolini
FOX – GOOD DAY NEW YORK
FOOD NETWORK – “What’s Hot! What’s Cool!”
DISCOVERY CHANNEL – Party Planner with David Tutera
NEWS 12 – “What’s Hot in the Hamptons” with Gina Glickman
CITY TV – Morning New Toronto, Canda
FOOD NETWORK – “What’s Hot! What’s Cool!”
DISCOVERY CHANNEL – Party Planner with David Tutera
NEWS 12 – “What’s Hot in the Hamptons” with Gina Glickman
CITY TV – Morning New Toronto, Canda
VH1 – “My Big Friggin’ Wedding”
Accolades & 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
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
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DJ CHEF "The Chef That Rocks!' is the only entertainer who simultaneously cooks & deejays for special events worldwide. DJ CHEF recently flexed his culinary chops by winning Food Network's Cutthroat Kitchen.
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