icon: cheff jeff
How do you go from being a guy on the wretched side of the drug dealing tracks and incarceration to becoming a celebrated Executive Chef, Cook Book author, having Will Smith soon play your life story and having your own Food Network reality series?
Easy.
By encompassing and comprehending that yes!…you are not your past; you are your possibilities. I’ll never forget when I saw this man on the Oprah show a couple of years ago. His bottom lip trembled and the tear drops of humility and joy streamed down his face for being able to have that out of body experience of sharing the stage with the Ms. O Highness.
GT won’t even lie. It plucked at my heartstrings and I just wanted to jump through that screen and cry with him. With his cute self. Because of that episode GT is convinced that Cheff Jeff is changed man. He’s living proof that hard work, determination, and passion is what truly makes luck; well luck.
We all know wayward folks…what is proof to you that someone is a changed man?
Posted by gt on October 28, 2008
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InstantVintage — October 28, 2008 @ 1:31 am
LOVING his show on FoodTV. Have you seen it? It’s great.
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gt — October 28, 2008 @ 1:36 am
I haven’t seen it…but I know its about giving others a second chance. It’s a great look for him. And I think he’s kinda cute cause he’s got that twinkle in his eye.
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Huemanity — October 28, 2008 @ 2:11 am
Hard work trumps all, period. It’s amazing how much we take this virtue and toss it aside and replace it with blame and pride. This man hit ROCK BOTTOM and could have easily become just another black man with a record. But he decided to walk a path that I am sure wasn’t easy.
I don’t have cable but I read about him in an article in the Food section of the NYT a few years ago and am happy he finally did get a big time show. Food has been a saving grace for many people. Something about having unlimited creativity and the ability to do it cheaply gives a lot of people access to what is ultimately a fine art. I am trying to get my wayward sister into culinary school because she is a beast in the kitchen. But she is lazy and unmotivated and wants to waste time. But hopefully she will get back on track. I will stay on her till the day I die.
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Ramona — October 28, 2008 @ 9:55 am
First of all, Huemanity, I am about to go with the no-cable thing. I pay two hundred bucks a month for three hours of television. I must be crazy.
About sexy Jeff– I mean Chef Jeff, he is a testament to hard work. There is something about believing that no matter what happens to you, hard work can/will eventually fix it. I gotta believe that, y’all.
~Ramona
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GT — October 28, 2008 @ 10:20 am
I haven’t had cable in years. I call TV the “plug in drug.” We all have our vices and TV happens to be the last thing that people want to get rid of. Sometimes after a long day at work you just want to veg out and I understand that. But my spirit itches and scratches to live fully; so TV has to get cut.
I love “What Not to Wear Tho” and I devour it whenever I’m at my Momma’s “always cable ready” house.
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GT — October 28, 2008 @ 12:32 pm
Huemanity.
I love what you said about your sister. It befuddles me how people can languish in their own self-doubt. Sounds like your sister is mega talented; but sometimes people can literally destroy their God-given potential.
It’s such a sad sight to see someone you love just waste it….
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Jazzy — October 28, 2008 @ 12:32 pm
I have been loving this man’s story since I saw him on ABC and then again on Oprah. What a testimony!
And I am loving his show, although I can’t stop saying “There’s no set trippin’ in the kitchen!!!” every chance I get.
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TJ — October 28, 2008 @ 1:13 pm
The greatest thing about his story is that he now goes out and tells other people that they can do great things too.
A person’s actions over time will always tell the truth behind the decision to live a new life.
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Simone — October 28, 2008 @ 1:42 pm
I’d never heard of him, but I am very proud of his story. I love Human Interest news. We can be redeemed if we want it bad enough. I had an Uncle who had been locked up for about 8 years and yet, he always had words of wisdom for me. He got his degree in jail and has been doing well ever since.
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GT — October 28, 2008 @ 11:10 pm
Iyanla calls prison “Extended Vacation Meditation Camp.”
You said it best: “We can be redeemed if we want it bad enough.”
For me people are only changed when they walk the walk and talk the talk. When they prevail in spite of odds I know they’re committed.
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The Comeback Girl — October 30, 2008 @ 5:17 pm
i skimmed his book once..because of your feature here, i’ll buy it.
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GT — October 30, 2008 @ 5:27 pm
The Comeback Girl…
The power of the Internet
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