Jean Joho facts for kids

Jean Joho is a famous chef and restaurant owner from France and America. He was the main chef and owner of the well-known Everest restaurant in Chicago, which opened in 1986 and closed in 2020. He also owned other popular places like Paris Club Bistro & Bar and Studio Paris in Chicago. You can also find his work at The Eiffel Tower Restaurant in Las Vegas and Brasserie Jo, which had locations in Chicago and Boston.

Early Life and Learning to Cook

Jean Joho was born in a town called Barr in France. He started cooking very young! By the age of six, he was already helping in his aunt's restaurant kitchen. He even wore a full chef's uniform and hat while peeling vegetables.

When he was 11, Jean spent his summer learning to make cheese in Marseille, another city in France. His official training to become a chef began at age 13. He studied at a famous cooking school called L'Auberge de L'lll. There, he learned from a master chef named Paul Haeberlin. Jean continued to improve his cooking skills in many other kitchens across Europe.

Chef Joho's Amazing Career

By the time Jean Joho was 23, he was already a sous chef at a very special restaurant. This restaurant had three Michelin stars, which are like top awards for restaurants. He was in charge of a team of 35 people! While studying at the Hotel Restaurant School in Strasbourg, he learned all about running hotels and restaurants. He also became an expert in making pastries, cheese, and choosing wines.

Jean Joho became famous around the world with his restaurant, Everest. It was located on the 40th floor of the Chicago Stock Exchange building. Everest became one of the best dining places in the world. It was even part of a special group called Relais & Chateaux, which includes top hotels and restaurants.

Chef Joho is also a managing partner at a big company called Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises. This means he helps run many restaurants across the country. He also has partnerships in other restaurant ideas, like Nacional 27 and M Burger in Chicago.

In 2013, Jean Joho and his team at Everest received four stars from a food critic at the Chicago Tribune newspaper. This is a very high honor! He was also named "Restaurateur of the Year" in 2012 by a food guide called Gayot.

In December 2020, Chef Joho decided to close the Everest Restaurant. He explained in an interview that the restaurant's lease was ending after 35 years.

Books by Jean Joho

Jean Joho has also written a cookbook! It's called The Eiffel Tower Cookbook and came out in 2008. In this book, he shares 50 of his special recipes.

Life Outside the Kitchen

Jean Joho lives in Chicago.

Awards and Special Honors

• Restaurateur of the Year, 2012, from Gayot
• Everest restaurant received a Michelin star in 2012
• Everest was rated 4 stars by the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, and Chicago Magazine
• Everest's wine list was called the "country's best selection of Alsace wine" by USA Today, The New York Times, and Saveur magazines.

More Information

• Everest Restaurant