Chef James – Chill & Grill with Grace | Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle

Chef James – Chill & Grill with Grace

SHERENE JAMES BIO

Chill & Grill with GraceChef Sherene James came from humble beginnings where she was raised by a single working mother. She spent most of her childhood with Ms. Rose, her great-grandmother and her beloved aunt Mary from whom she learned cooking in their small kitchen in Harmons, a small rural community in her homeland of Jamaica. It was because of their loving guidance that Chef James developed a passion for cooking.

In 1999 Chef James attended the prestigious Runaway Bay HEART Culinary Institute, where she was trained and certified as a Sous Chef and a Pastry Chef.
After working in several hotels across the island of Jamaica, Chef James then returned to her beloved institution in 2003 to be a Food Preparation Demonstrator. While working at HEART she was asked to enter a nationwide competition for the position of Executive Chef to the Jamaican Ambassador to the United States. After several rounds of interviews, Chef James was selected based on her outstanding qualifications and professionalism and relocated to the Washington DC to serve as the personal chef to the Ambassador and the Embassy Chef.
While working at the Embassy of Jamaica in Washington DC, Chef James entered many cooking competitions representing her country. She has had the pleasure of preparing and serving meals for members of Congress, Heads of State and other dignitaries. Throughout the years she also represented Grace by doing demos and tv promotions.

In February 2022, Chef James moved on from her position at the Embassy after 18 years of service. Today Chef James is a wife and mother, the owner and operator of Rosemary Pastries and the proud Chef of Grace Foods USA.