Steven Jackson
Montpelier AOS '90
President/CEO The Convenient Chef, Ltd., a personal chef service
Featured clients: The Chicago Bulls

Even the most talented basketball players need fuel to fly. Enter NECI graduate Steve Jackson, on a one-man mission to teach Chicago's giants to love their green vegetables.

Chef Steve is responsible for feeding the Bulls when they are in town, and is personal chef to forward Eddy Curry. It's not easy to persuade multi-millionaires and recent high school graduates that there is more to food than burgers, fries, and a shake, but Chef Steve has converted the team to a healthy balance of carbs, protein, vegetables and fruit. The teams' favorite meals are grilled tuna, salmon, chicken sausages, and Steve's special fajitas and crawfish jambalaya.

"Growing up playing basketball, you always dream of making the NBA," says Steve. "Hey - I did make the NBA, but through the kitchen."

He credits NECI for much of his success. "I use my NECI education in everything I do: sanitation, food theory, meat fabrication, cooking and ordering."

He advises current and prospective NECI students to "Be patient and focused. Success will come to those that bust their butts and have a passion for what they do."

You can visit Steve's website at www.convenientchef.com. He's been featured in Chicago Magazine, Eating Well Magazine, the Chicago Sun-Times, and Hemispheres Magazine.