Chef JJ Johnson is a James Beard Award–winning chef, TV personality, author, and cultural tastemaker known for redefining Afro-Latino and global Black cuisines through a contemporary lens. Celebrated for his boundary-pushing approach to food of the African diaspora, JJ is the founder of FIELDTRIP, a community-rooted rice bowl shop that champions rice as a global heritage grain. FIELDTRIP has expanded across New York City, including a flagship location at Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas.
JJ’s culinary voice has reached millions through television, including his role as host of Just Eats with Chef JJ on Cleo TV, now in its fifth season. He has appeared on Selena + Chef (Max), Street Food (Netflix), and the Food Network, among others, and is frequently called upon to speak at the intersection of food, culture, and equity.
A classically trained chef, JJ sharpened his skills in New York City kitchens and abroad in Ghana, Israel, and India. His cuisine celebrates the vibrant complexity of the African diaspora while embracing sustainability, local sourcing, and food justice. This ethos is on full display at Blue LLama Jazz Club in Ann Arbor, where he serves as Creative Culinary Director, offering a seasonal prix fixe menu set to live music. JJ is also a founding partner in Wonder, Marc Lore’s delivery-first food platform, where he continues to innovate at scale.
JJ’s debut cookbook, Between Harlem and Heaven, co-authored with Alexander Smalls and Veronica Chambers, won the James Beard Award for Best American Cookbook. In 2023, he released his second book, The Simple Art of Rice: Recipes from Around the World for the Heart of Your Table, which was named one of the New York Times’ “Best Cookbooks of 2023.”
A passionate advocate for equity in the food system, JJ works with organizations such as Rethink Food and Friends of the Children, using his platform to address hunger, sustainability, and mentorship. His leadership has earned him accolades from the James Beard Foundation, Esquire (Best New Restaurant for FIELDTRIP and The Cecil), the National Restaurant Association Power List, Eater’s New Guard, Forbes 30 Under 30, and Zagat’s 30 Under 30.
