James Quandt

Background

About James Quandt

I slaved away in the hot restaurant industry for about 5 years, worked my way up as one does out of culinary school; started out a dishwasher and eventually moved up the ranks to Jr sous chef at island breeze on fireisland, NY. I Have travel to many places expanding my culinary consciousness. And my higher power eventually introduced me to the private chef sector and I’ve never looked back. Currently reside in Malibu at a drug and alcohol rehab center for mostly professional athlete clientele. Private cheffing has turned into a career and self teaching seeming to be where i strive the most, experimenting and learning through trial and error. Being the son of a carpenter, and a dam good one, i can help but to put the hammer and saw down on my off days. Garden box building seems to be a side job that has been taking off. And i find it peculiar that gardening and cheffing go hand in hand. Creating a farm to family table hashtag (#farm2familystyle) on Instagram, has shown profitable for side money. Gardening has shown to be therapeutic for those in and out of the sobriety world. So implementing a “gardening therapy class” led by myself has been implemented on the daily schedule at broad beach recovery center where i work as a head private chef friend roughly 6-16 a day. We in the industry who stick around love fast paced and chaotic environments. It’s why we stick around for years and pull 9-13 hour days. Sweating the whole time. Yes for those who are one of me, for those who sweat and run all day, for if your are reading this, I am here to tell you, there is another way of life. Private chef work has brought me a calmness and sense of purpose that I’ve always been looking for. And freedom of creativity is a plus!