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Jerome Grant
Grant in 2018
Born Philippines
Cooking style American, Native American, African American, Asian American
Education Pennsylvania Culinary Institute
Spouse Sophia Grant

Jerome Grant is a talented American chef from Washington, D.C. He is famous for being the very first head chef at the Sweet Home Café, which is part of the amazing National Museum of African American History and Culture. He also worked for a long time at the Mitsitam Café, located in the National Museum of the American Indian.

Chef Grant's cooking and recipes have been shown in many popular magazines and TV shows. These include The Washington Post, Time Magazine, The New York Times, and National Geographic Channel. He even appeared on TV shows like The Chew and The Today Show.

Early Life and Cooking Start

Growing Up and Learning to Cook

Jerome Grant was born in the Philippines. He moved around a lot as a child, living in places like New York, Oklahoma, and California. Later, his family settled in Fort Washington, Maryland. He finished high school at Oxon Hill High School in 2000.

Chef Grant started cooking when he was very young. His mother taught him the basics of Filipino cooking. During his summers, he visited his grandparents in Philadelphia. He says his father's Jamaican background helped him learn about Caribbean flavors.

Becoming a Chef

Culinary School and First Jobs

In 2002, Jerome Grant graduated from the Pennsylvania Culinary Institute. He earned a degree in Culinary Arts. After school, he moved to Saint Croix to start his cooking career. He worked at the Renaissance St. Croix Carambola Beach Resort and Spa.

In 2004, he was named the "Best New Chef in Saint Croix." He was also called the "Young and Most Talented Chef of the Virgin Islands." In 2005, Chef Grant helped open The Mix Lounge in Saint Croix. He was a part-owner and the head chef there.

Working in Washington, D.C.

In 2006, Chef Grant returned to the United States. He became the executive sous chef at Urbana Restaurant in Washington, D.C. After two years, he joined the Mitsitam Café. This café is inside the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian.

In 2012, his team at Mitsitam won an award for "Best Casual Restaurant." That same year, Chef Grant represented the USA in a cooking challenge in Australia. His team won a Silver Certificate.

Cooking for Famous People

In 2013, Chef Grant started his own catering business called Details Catering. He cooked for many important people in Washington, D.C. One of his clients was even First Lady Michelle Obama.

In 2014, Chef Grant became the head chef at Mitsitam Café. He made the museum's dining special by cooking everything from scratch. He also used unique ingredients like chicken gizzards and frog legs. He is known for using old Native American cooking methods and ingredients in new ways.

Leading the Sweet Home Cafe

In 2016, Chef Grant was chosen to be the first head chef for the new Sweet Home Cafe. This cafe is inside the amazing Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Cookbooks and Awards

Sharing Recipes in Books

In 2018, Chef Grant helped write a cookbook called Sweet Home Cafe Cookbook: A Celebration of African American Cooking. The book shares recipes from the Sweet Home Cafe. It also tells the stories behind the dishes. These stories connect to the museum's exhibits. The book shows how African-American food traditions have traveled and changed over time.

Recognized for Excellence

The Sweet Home Cafe was nominated for a James Beard award in 2017. This award is like the "Oscars" for chefs and restaurants. In 2019, Chef Grant himself was nominated for a James Beard award for Best Chef.

He also received the StarChefs Rising Star Award in 2018. Washington Life Magazine featured him in their "Young & the Guest List: 40 Under 40" list in 2019. This was for his great work at the Sweet Home Cafe and in the community.

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