Chef Jean P

Chef Jean’s culinary journey began in the heart of Queens, NYC, where the rhythm of her family’s kitchen sparked a lifelong passion.

Inspired by her mother’s love language of cooking, Jean’s earliest food memories involve selling homemade Filipino sponge cakes (mamon) to fund her creative ventures. Her passion for food transformed into a career during college, leading her to trade textbooks for a culinary program and an externship at Nougatine by Jean-Georges—a decision that opened countless doors.

Jean’s career highlights include working at Bravo’s Top Chef Kitchen pop-up, cooking alongside acclaimed contestants like Richard Blais and Tiffany Derry, and opening Distilled N.Y., a Tribeca gastropub under restaurateur Drew Nieporent. Along the way, she’s cooked for an impressive roster of celebrities, from Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie to Barack Obama and the cast of Game of Thrones.

For Chef Jean, cooking is more than a job—it’s her “zen” place. Whether it’s crafting the perfect midweek dinner or a show-stopping wedding feast, she finds joy in seeing the look of delight on someone’s face after that first bite. She firmly believes that good food breaks all barriers, as she learned during a childhood trip to the Philippines, where char-grilled prawns shared on a beach bridged a language gap with her cousins.

When she’s not whipping up culinary magic, Jean enjoys reading, gardening, and playing video games (earning her title as “bestest video game player” from her nephew). She’s also a proud Disney World annual pass holder, embracing her mantra: “We’re adults with adult money, and we’ll spend it as we please.” At home, she shares her life with Chef, her aptly named and delightfully grumpy beagle mix, who’s earned his title as the true head of the household.

With a love for simple, home-cooked meals made with love and a penchant for beachside escapes, Chef Jean continues to bring people together through the universal language of food—one unforgettable bite at a time.