Fueled by an intrinsic sense of curiosity and a passion for learning, my dream growing up was to be a history teacher. As a native of Atlantic City, New Jersey, when I was diagnosed with Chrone’s disease I had to take a left turn, changing my path and learning how to heal myself through food. Today, I am in remission and have spent my culinary career working and staging at some of the best restaurants in the country and around the globe. From Thailand, to Paris to New York City, I have used my experiences to start a private chef and cooking class company, Culinary Breakdown at the age of 24 and am now the Owner and Chef of MIDA restaurant in Boston’s trendy South End neighborhood, MIDA Newton and APIZZA. As the only Black, chef-owned restaurant in Boston, I continue to find ways to put my passion for story-telling and teaching to use by building bridges in the community through food and conversation. I live in Jamaica Plain, MA with my wife, Debra and twin boys, Raffa and Lev.

• 2023 James Beard Foundation - Best Chef Northeast, Semi-Finalist
• 2023 No Kid Hungry - Chef Champion 
• 2023 MRA - Executive Chef of the Year
• 2022 James Beard Foundation - Outstanding Chef, Semi-Finalist
• Best Chef, General Excellence, Boston Magazine, 2021
• Food & Wine “Best New Chefs in America” class of 2020
• 2020 James Beard Foundation - Best Chef Northeast, Semi-Finalist
• Best Chef General Excellence, Boston Magazine