Podcast: Get To Know The Extraordinary Chef JJ Johnson!

Chef JJ Johnson is an award-winning culinary innovator and cultural tastemaker best known for his barrier-breaking cuisine that connects the foodways of West Africa and Asia to the Americas. His signature cooking style blends culturally significant ingredients with classical techniques and a global perspective, deeply inspired by the Caribbean flavors of his childhood and his international travels — from cooking in Ghana and Israel to visiting a seven-generation rice farm in India.

Raised between New York City and the Poconos, JJ's passion for food began at age seven under the influence of his Afro Puerto-Rican grandmother. He later honed his craft at the Culinary Institute of America and has earned numerous accolades, including the James Beard Foundation Book Award and recognition on the Nation's Restaurant News Power List.

Chef JJ is the founder of FIELDTRIP, a fast-casual rice bowl concept headquartered in Harlem with multiple locations throughout New York City, where the menu celebrates global rice traditions and sustainability. He's also the founder of Ingrained Hospitality Concepts, LLC, a hospitality group that champions cultural storytelling through food. His culinary philosophy is rooted in the belief that rice is the backbone of many cultures — especially in a diverse country like America.

His work has been featured on Food Network's Chopped, Netflix's Street Food, and Selena + Chef, and he hosts Just Eats with Chef JJ. He is also the author of The Simple Art of Rice: Recipes from Around the World for the Heart of Your Table.

Beyond the kitchen, Chef JJ is a community advocate dedicated to food justice and equity, partnering with local rice farmers and producers to support sustainable practices. He lives in New York City with his wife and twins.