JJ Johnson

FIELDTRIP

JJ Johnson is an award-winning Chef, Founder, TV Personality, and Author. He is best known for his barrier-breaking cuisine connecting the foodways of West Africa and Asia to the Americas.

Chef JJ’s signature style of combining culturally relevant ingredients with his classically trained cooking and global point of view was inspired by the Caribbean tastes he grew up with and...

JJ Johnson is an award-winning Chef, Founder, TV Personality, and Author. He is best known for his barrier-breaking cuisine connecting the foodways of West Africa and Asia to the Americas.

Chef JJ’s signature style of combining culturally relevant ingredients with his classically trained cooking and global point of view was inspired by the Caribbean tastes he grew up with and his travels. He’s cooked in Ghana and Israel and has visited a 7-generation rice farm in India. His culinary philosophy centers on showcasing the diversity and richness of the African diaspora while also challenging traditional cuisines.

Recognized by Eater as one of the New Guard of Power in NYC Dining, JJ’s brand of creating cultural connections through food is a hallmark of his hospitality group Ingrained Hospitality Concepts, LLC, a collaboration of industry professionals dedicated to creating great restaurants while sharing international cuisine with amazing hospitality.

His work has earned him numerous accolades, including a James Beard Foundation Award for the best American cookbook for Between Harlem and Heaven. He has also been featured on multiple television shows, including Food Network’s Chopped, Netflix’s Street Food, and Selena + Chef on HBO Max. Additionally, JJ has his television show called Just Eats with Chef JJ airing for its fifth season on TV One’s network Cleo TV this fall. Chef JJ’s highly anticipated cookbook with Danica Novgorodof, The Simple Art of Rice: Recipes from Around the World for the Heart of Your Table, will be released in September 2023 by Macmillan Publishers.

Chef JJ curates an environment for connection through food that transcends people, memories, and generations, as witnessed at Fieldtrip, his quick-casual rice bowl shop, which highlights the future of food. Johnson strongly advocates for sustainability, working with local farmers and producers to source the freshest ingredients for his dishes. As one of America’s most exciting fast casual brands, Fieldtrip has taken NYC by storm with 4 locations and is continuing expansion non-stop. JJ believes some of the most dynamic cultures are linked to rice, and with America being a diverse nation, we all grew up within a “rice culture.” Henceforth the slogan, “Rice is Culture” at Fieldtrip.

A cultural tastemaker, family man, Chef JJ Johnson developed a passion for culinary at the tender age of seven. While growing up between New York City and the Poconos, PA, he quickly became inspired by the flavors and cultures of his diverse upbringing. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), JJ honed his skills in some of the world’s top kitchens throughout New York City.

Today, he is a community champion. His passion for food justice and equity drives him to raise awareness within the food industry, using his platform to create change. JJ continues to push boundaries in the culinary world, with plans to develop more restaurants that celebrate and share the vibrant flavors and cultures of Africa and the Caribbean.