By April MacIntyre Oct 7, 2008, 21:00 GMT
Food Network launches a new reality series this October with the premiere of "The Chef Jeff Project."
"The Chef Jeff Project" follows Chef Jeff Henderson, a former prison inmate turned successful executive chef, as he helps to transform the lives of six struggling young adults through the power of food and education.
Nicknamed, “The Crew,” they will work as subordinates and under Chef Jeff’s eye at his new LA-based catering company, Posh Urban Cuisine. The crew is given necessary skills to remake themselves and succeed, including appearance, attitude, respect, motivation and behavior.
As an added incentive, if each of the crew members makes it though the project, then they will have the opportunity to receive scholarships from the International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes to help them continue towards a culinary career.
From catering assignments with stars from TV, such as General Hospital and even the LA Dodgers, to personal meals with Jeff’s own family, the crew will get a new look at life and realize they have the tools to thrive despite the odds stacked against them.
Chef Jeff Henderson was a convicted felon who turned his life around inside prison. He learned cooking while serving his sentence for drugs, and he had a positive life-altering course charted for him through his own determination and hard work.
In 2001, Jeff made history in Las Vegas, when he became the first African-American named "Chef de Cuisine" at Caesar's Palace. He eventually became an executive chef at several top restaurants including Café Bellagio, where he worked until 2006.
Jeff’s compelling story was recounted in his New York Times bestseller Cooked, and is now being developed by Will Smith's Overbrook Entertainment and Escape Artists to produce for Columbia Pictures. Overbrook's Smith and James Lassiter will produce with Escape Artists' Todd Black and Jason Blumenthal.
Chef Jeff also launches his first cookbook, "Chef Jeff Cooks: In the Kitchen with America's Inspirational New Culinary Star" (Scribner).
Jeff currently lives in Las Vegas with his wife and three children.
"Chef Jeff has an amazing story that will inspire not only the young adults in the show, but viewers across the country," said Bob Tuschman, Senior Vice President, Programming and Production for Food Network. "This type of show only comes along once in a while and we are proud to bring a unique, touching, exciting show like this to our Food Network viewers."
Chef Jeff is a very busy Food Network Star and took a few minutes out of his day today to speak to Monsters and Critics about his new show, “Chef Jeff Project,” and his journey to fame.
Where exactly was your formal training in cooking?
CJ: I had no formal training, it was all learned in prison.
Tell me about the Circle of Sisters event coming up on the eleventh?
CJ:The Circle of Sisters – this is my second event I have done and I wil be making cake corn bread and BBQ Shrimp scampi.
Cooking cocaine on the streets to prison tutorial on cooking- when was the epiphany for you exactly?
CJ: It was a collective situation inside prison, and I got my GED, and joined self help groups and organizations inside to help. I then became interested in cooking and that is where the vision came, when I was in the prison kitchen learning.
Theory: I believe boys even more than girls need a regimented structured learning environment that instills self-worth, how do you feel?
CJ: I believe the military style regimentation like I had in prison and working in the kitchen was beneficial to me; prison saved my life.
I never went to traditional cooking schools, I was taught inside prison, and I would say to anyone who wants this as a career you must work in the industry first, I think the CIA (Culinary Institute of America) insists their applicants work for a year to make sure they want this as a career.
Hardest day for you in prison?
CJ: The day I walked in, and the day I walked out.
Because the day I walked out, it was a fear of the unknown, and would my skills learned inside be able to take me where I needed to go.
Best day for you out of prison?
CJ: The day my son Jeffrey Junior was born.
Will you speak to young boys and girls in risk schools and share your Horatio Alger tale?
CJ: I have been speaking ot kids for 20 years now, I also do private events and for celebrities, and I talk about choices, and offer a reality education.
What is your signature meal?
CJ: There are three:Sweet potato pot-feuMolasses braised-beef short ribsChocolate S’mores bread pudding
Favorite cuisine?
CJ: American Southern, then California French
Favorite tool of the trade, one you are never without?
CJ: A fish spatula###
Chef Jeff is currently featured on The Food Network Channel as they air his journey Wednesday on Oct 8 in “My Life in Food”
Chef Jeff then will appear at Howard University on Thursday Oct 9, please contact the Howard book store for times and details.
Then Chef Jeff appears on “Good Morning America” this Friday (Oct 10).
Chef Jeff will be a special guest of the “Circle of Sisters” at the Javitz Center Saturday, Oct 11.
"The Chef Jeff Project" airs on the Food Network Sunday,October 12th at 10PM ET/PT
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