Jasper White (chef) facts for kids
| Born | May 28, 1954 New Jersey, U.S. |
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| Died | May 11, 2024 (aged 69) |
| Cooking style | “New England food” |
| Education | Culinary Institute of America |
| Spouse | Kathleen |
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Current restaurant(s)
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Award(s) won
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Jasper White (born May 28, 1954 – died May 11, 2024) was a famous American chef. He also owned restaurants and wrote cookbooks. Many people thought he was the best expert on New England food, especially seafood.
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Becoming a Chef
Jasper White was born in New Jersey on May 28, 1954. He said his Italian grandmother made him love cooking.
He went to a special cooking school called The Culinary Institute of America. He started there in 1975 and finished in 1976. In 1979, he met another chef named Lydia Shire. They worked together in famous hotels in Boston. Lydia Shire thought Jasper was her teacher and "her best cook friend."
His Restaurants
Jasper's: A Fine Dining Spot
In 1983, Jasper White opened his own restaurant called Jasper's. It was located by the water in Boston. This restaurant became very well-known. It was famous for its seafood and other New England dishes. Jasper's was a place where he made classic foods in a fancy new way. Jasper's closed in 1995 because he wanted to spend more time with his children. After that, he worked as a helper for another seafood company for three years.
Summer Shack: A Fun Seafood Place
In May 2000, Jasper White opened a new restaurant called Jasper White's Summer Shack. This restaurant was in Cambridge. It also has locations in other places like Mohegan Sun and Boston's Back Bay. There is even a Summer Shack on Spectacle Island in Boston Harbor during the summer.
The Summer Shack was different from Jasper's. It was more relaxed and like a seaside clam shack. It let him cook hearty, family-style food. Even though it was casual, one very famous dish from his old restaurant, Jasper's, was still on the menu. This was his special pan-roasted lobster. In 2017, Jasper White sold the Summer Shack and was no longer involved with the business.
Cookbooks by Jasper White
Jasper White wrote several cookbooks, sharing his love for New England food.
- Jasper White’s Cooking from New England
- Lobster at Home
- Fifty Chowders
- The Summer Shack Cookbook: The Complete Guide to Shore Food
Awards and Honors
Jasper White received important awards for his cooking.
- He won the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef in the Northeast region.
- In 2000, his Summer Shack restaurant was nominated by the James Beard Foundation for Best New Restaurant.
Personal Life
Jasper White and his wife, Kathleen, lived near Boston. They had six children and two grandchildren. Jasper White passed away on May 11, 2024, when he was 69 years old.
