JJ Johnson (chef)

Johnson was born in 1984 in Long Island, New York, to a family of Caribbean ancestry. His grandparents were born in Barbados, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Puerto Rico.[3] He spent his early life in the Poconos.[4]

At the age of seven, JJ was inspired to become a chef after seeing a commercial for the Culinary Institute of America.[5] He grew up reading his grandmother's cookbooks.[6]

After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America, Johnson spent time in Ghana studying West African cuisine, before returning to cook at several New York City restaurants, including Tropico, Jane, Tribeca Grill, and Centro Vinoteca.[6][5][4]

In 2011, JJ competed and won Bravo's Rocco's Dinner Party cooking competition. Later, Alexander Smalls invited JJ to breakfast to introduce the concept of Afro-Asian cooking to him. A year later, JJ joined Smalls on an extended trip to Ghana, where they prepared a series of American-themed dinners.[7][8] Upon their return, Smalls and JJ developed 36 different menus that would ultimately be narrowed down to one Afro-Asian-inspired menu for The Cecil in 2013.[9] The Cecil opened in 2013, and JJ served as its executive chef from then until 2017.[5][7] In 2014, he also joined Minton's, which is a sister restaurant of The Cecil.[10] Later, in 2015, he was appointed as the executive chef for both restaurants.[10][11]

In 2017, JJ joined Chef's Club in New York City after leaving The Cecil and Minton. During his tenure, he expanded the menu with braised meats, rice dishes, and West African peanut sauce as part of the Club's first extended chef residency program.[6]

In 2018, JJ became the executive chef at The Henry at Life Hotel in Manhattan, with a menu that focuses on African diaspora cuisine.[12][13] In the same year, he co-authored the Afro-Asian inspired cookbook, Between Harlem and Heaven, with Alexander Smalls and Veronica Chambers.[14]

In 2019, JJ established Fieldtrip, a fast-casual restaurant that sources unprocessed rice from farmers.[7][3] A year later, in 2020, Fieldtrip was opened at Rockefeller Center.[15] In 2021, two major investment firms funded JJ's plan to expand to more locations.[3] In October 2022, Fieldtrip was opened near Columbia University's Morningside Campus.[16] Fieldtrip was listed on Esquire's 'America's Best New Restaurants' list in 2020 and was the only fast-casual restaurant on the list.[17]

• Forbes' 30 Under 30 in the Food & Wine category (2014),[18]
• Zagat's 30 Under 30 (2014)[19]
• Eater's Young Guns (2014).[20]

• Just Eats with Chef JJ
• Street Food
• The Next Thing You Eat
• Chopped
• The Big Brunch
• Secret Chef

• Johnson, JJ; Smalls, Alexander; Chambers, Veronica (2018). Between Harlem and Heaven
• Johnson, JJ: Danica Novgorodoff (2023). The Simple Art of Rice

• "Chefs JJ Johnson and Homer Murray Take Outdoor Dining to New Heights This Summer". rockefellercenter.com.
• Taylor, DeAnna (February 27, 2023). "Chefs JJ Johnson, Mashama Bailey and More Come Together for Star-Studded Culinary Fest in South Beach, Miami". Ebony.