Chef Jaz is a native New Yorker, educator and community organizer, who dedicates her time to empowering residents through food access and education. The daughter of Honduran immigrants, Jaz attended the School of Culinary Arts at the Institute of Culinary Education. Post graduation, she worked at Michelin-starred Bouley at Home, Melba’s in Harlem and developed curriculum for various culinary based educational organizations while refining her cuisine that celebrates Central American ingredients. She was nominated for the NYC Food Policy 40 under 40 Rising Stars Class of 2021 and awarded a certificate of recognition for outstanding contributions to the community from the New York City Comptroller. She currently runs the Teaching Kitchen at The Dalton School and is working to develop it into the first culinary department in a K-12 independent school in the country. In 2020, she founded a community fridge that rescues and distributes farm fresh produce, breads and prepared meals throughout Upper Manhattan and the Bronx.
I photographed Chef at the Dalton School and as she spoke on a panel at Platform by James Beard Foundation.
