meet jermaine

 A native of Chicago, Illinois, Jermaine Richardson found his calling to cuisine while watching the Food Network. In 2005, after an unexpected, life altering health scare, Jermaine began cooking for his wife during his rehab process. What initially started out as “just having dinner ready when his wife came home from work”, turned into a newfound passion that served as the springboard to his culinary enlightenment. Early childhood memories of observing his grandmothers prepare delicious Southern food during family gatherings became the basis for his deep-rooted passion, but Jermaine taught himself the culinary fundamentals and was inspired by watching his favorite chefs, Marcus Samuelsson and The Neely’s. He began exploring his creative culinary expression through the modernization of Southern Cuisine via hip-hop culture and his westside Chicago upbringing by first experimenting on family members, to eventually being beckoned to cook for hundreds at local soup kitchens through his church, which is where his connection to food and community was birthed.

Jermaine is a self-taught culinary artist, ecclesiastic, author, and hip-hop enthusiast. With 12 years of serving as a youth pastor, faith leader, and caterer, Jermaine wants to consciously build on the ability to grow by staying creative, faithful, and evolving in community, with the desire to move past the plate and serve as inspiration for those who don’t want to be pigeonholed by religion.