UPTOWN LOVE!

I'm still in complete and utter shock of this astonishing recognition. A little over a week ago, I was named a James Beard finalist for ‘Best Chef New York State.’ I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you, my amazing team at FIELDTRIP and of course my family. This whole experience has made me reflect on my past few years and one key component that’s preeminent is my community.?

?I realize with this recognition that it's my turn to empower, influence and most importantly,?give love?to all of you – my community.?

?So, what does community mean to me??Community is everything.?It is the culture you surround yourself with, the environment amongst you and your family. As the old school saying goes "it takes a village to raise a child." My community has had the greatest impact on my journey, and my Harlem community continues to help shape the chef I am today.??

?Through all of the challenges of the past two years, it was my community that inspired me to find hope in the darkness. Seeing the phenomenal work and dedication of our frontline workers, including my wife, made me want to do more. My grandfather, aka Poppy, would tell me as a kid to be thankful for the food on the table because not everyone was as fortunate. All I was thinking in those early days was how I, as a chef, could help those around me who needed it most. We decided to give a bowl for every bowl our community purchased - before I knew it, over 175,000 bowls were delivered. It still warms my heart to think about how Harlem stepped up one bowl at a time to feed our neighbors. But you know the community and I didn’t stop there…?

In order to expand our footprint, we looked for partners uptown and teamed up with Friends of the Children NY, Rethink Foods, NYCHA, Boys and Girls Club, Harlem Grown, Headstart, Bro and Sis, Ronald McDonald House, and many more to spread light and a hot meal to our younger generation of future leaders. Giving back to my community is way more than just providing a bowl of food. It's the nutrition it provides, the warmth it captures, the perseverance in adversity, the resilience in overcoming, and most of all love from the inside out!?

Today, I am continuing the partnership with Rethink Foods to keep feeding people in need in Harlem. I have also adopted a school in East Harlem called Mosaic through Wellness In The Schools to bring quality nutrition to students nearby. In total, we have donated over?220,000?bowls. I can't stop, and I won't stop serving the community.?

?I believe food is the greatest vessel at my disposal to help my community and am thrilled so many of you have been a part of that journey.

You mean everything to me!

Chef JJ