Chop It Up with Chef Jermaine McNeil!

The first cooking classes he ever attended was at the Boys and Girls Club when he was young — he smelled an amazing aroma after swim practice, and he wanted to “feed his belly.” He never would have guessed that would be the start of his career. His first culinary creation?

English muffin pepperoni pizza. He eventually graduated to being nicknamed “the pork chop kid” when his mom taught him to cook so that he could prepare himself a nice meal when she was working nights. Jermaine worked extremely hard over the years to earn his GED, attend the Teaching Kitchen culinary training program in 2011, and at times worked multiple jobs to make ends meet as he prepared to become a father.

His culinary career has included stints working as a Cook at Fenway Park, HeadStart, Boston University (where he met Jacques Pepin!), Cristo Rey High School, Community Servings, and eventually starting his own business “All Forked Up” catering, which he continues to operate today. He has also become a Culinary Instructor for the youth of Boston, leading his weekly Kitchen Kreators program at the Gallivan Community Center and the Davis Leadership Academy. Programming at the Boston Public Library is funded through private support.

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