DJ CHEF Marc Weiss bio 2010
His recipe was simple. Spin the hottest music while mixing in some delectable gourmet cuisines. Throw in some celebrity soirees along with a TV pilot and add some buzz. For nearly 10 years, the DJ Chef has been hitting up a scene that has never been tapped. DJ Chef is the only culinary entertainer who simultaneously cooks gourmet food and deejays at private parties and special events worldwide.
While his experience and determination have guided him to the top of his game, Marc doesn’t lose his head amongst all the glitz and glam. His humble beginning keeps him grounded and influences him to work harder and longer to reach his goals.
Raised by his grandparents, Marc recalls growing up in a different kind of Long Beach. Long gone were the big name celebrities like Clara Bow and Marilyn Monroe and the fancy hotels. Marc’s humble start came from his great grandfather “Poppy,” who he describes as the most selfless and generous man. Marc’s great grandfather served in World War I and was an army cook. After the war, his great grandfather saved his money and bought a little push cart to sell fruits and vegetables in New York City. He worked long hours, opening the cart first thing in the morning and closing it down very late at night, recalls Marc.
“My grandma says he gave away as much as he sold!” Marc laughed.
During the 1920s, Marc’s great grandfather had bigger plans and opened a small store in Harlem. And in 1935, he moved to the City of Long Beach and opened up a green market called King Kohen—located where Waldbaum’s in Long Beach is today. Marc used to visit the fresh fruit and vegetable market everyday with his grandmother to pick him up from work after his long day.
“I remember running around the store grabbing vegetables and fruit and he would tell me what it was and why it was so good,” Marc fondly recalled of his childhood. “He would always show me all of these vegetables and fruits just from him. All he cared about was doing a good job and making sure all of the kids on the block had a fresh banana or apple.”
Marc’s great grandfather has been the inspiration for his motivation and the love of his career. And, Marc has truly learned a great lesson from “Poppy,” which has influenced his work today. Marc’s great grandfather worked at his market until he was 90-years-old.
“Love what you do,” he says. “My grandma is so passionate when she speaks about him. He loved his work and loved his family.”
While food and culinary cuisine has always been Marc’s forefront, as a teen he began making his hobby into a reality. Marc began deejaying at house parties when he was just 16. After high school, Marc attended the New York Restaurant School in New York City and worked with famed chefs Bobby Flay and Matthew Kenney throughout the city. Marc returned to Long Island to cook at some of the hottest restaurants around. His success as a noted chef was becoming a reality within local media outlets like News 12, Newsday, and The New York Times, and Marc began hosting and catering private parties during that time. More and more, people began socializing in the kitchen with him and asking him culinary questions.
After the launch of Food Network, Marc saw food as an entertainment tool and set out to make his passion for music and food a combination for success. He began entertaining at parties and events where he deejayed while preparing a gourmet meal and from then on the DJ Chef was born.
Marc’s cooking class parties became popular enough that he was beginning to receive invitations to major events. Marc has appeared on multiple television shows and segments including: the Food Network’s “What’s Hot!, What’s Cool!,” MTV’s Celebrity Spring Break Style special with Lindsay Lohan, MSNBC’s Entertainment Hot List, Discovery Channel’s Party Planner, FUSE TV’s One Year Anniversary live on IMX, What’s Hot in the Hamptons with Gina Glickman and in an NBC News feature on the hottest trends in entertainment at the Biz Bash Event Style Show.
To mark and honor his success, Marc was recently honored by his Alma Mater, the New York Restaurant School, and will be inducted into their Hall of Fame for his achievement and innovation in the culinary field. Marc also actively supports charities and organizations. Marc served as Honorary Chairman for an event to help in the fight against AIDS with LIACC and as the honorary chef for the March of Dimes Star Chef’s Gala. He was also the emcee and judge for the Long Island Top Amateur Chef competition which raises funds for a scholarship to send a talented teen to culinary school. DJ Chef is currently working on his own television series and cookbook and is performing nationwide at special events, corporate functions, launch parties, grand openings, food festivals and trade shows. His cooking show would feature music and live musical performances from major recording artists wrapping up the show. Marc has demonstrated and entertained packed houses with his beats and captivating culinary style at the Hamptons Home Show, Williams Sonoma, ICE Culinary, Bloomingdales, Macy’s Herald Square, Stew Leonard’s, New York Culinary Festival, Viking Culinary, Fairway, East Bay Farms, Hicks Nursery, Alameda County Fair, and multiple trade shows and public events.
For additional information, video clips, photos and booking information, visit his website at www.DJCHEF.com.
While his experience and determination have guided him to the top of his game, Marc doesn’t lose his head amongst all the glitz and glam. His humble beginning keeps him grounded and influences him to work harder and longer to reach his goals.
Raised by his grandparents, Marc recalls growing up in a different kind of Long Beach. Long gone were the big name celebrities like Clara Bow and Marilyn Monroe and the fancy hotels. Marc’s humble start came from his great grandfather “Poppy,” who he describes as the most selfless and generous man. Marc’s great grandfather served in World War I and was an army cook. After the war, his great grandfather saved his money and bought a little push cart to sell fruits and vegetables in New York City. He worked long hours, opening the cart first thing in the morning and closing it down very late at night, recalls Marc.
“My grandma says he gave away as much as he sold!” Marc laughed.
During the 1920s, Marc’s great grandfather had bigger plans and opened a small store in Harlem. And in 1935, he moved to the City of Long Beach and opened up a green market called King Kohen—located where Waldbaum’s in Long Beach is today. Marc used to visit the fresh fruit and vegetable market everyday with his grandmother to pick him up from work after his long day.
“I remember running around the store grabbing vegetables and fruit and he would tell me what it was and why it was so good,” Marc fondly recalled of his childhood. “He would always show me all of these vegetables and fruits just from him. All he cared about was doing a good job and making sure all of the kids on the block had a fresh banana or apple.”
Marc’s great grandfather has been the inspiration for his motivation and the love of his career. And, Marc has truly learned a great lesson from “Poppy,” which has influenced his work today. Marc’s great grandfather worked at his market until he was 90-years-old.
“Love what you do,” he says. “My grandma is so passionate when she speaks about him. He loved his work and loved his family.”
While food and culinary cuisine has always been Marc’s forefront, as a teen he began making his hobby into a reality. Marc began deejaying at house parties when he was just 16. After high school, Marc attended the New York Restaurant School in New York City and worked with famed chefs Bobby Flay and Matthew Kenney throughout the city. Marc returned to Long Island to cook at some of the hottest restaurants around. His success as a noted chef was becoming a reality within local media outlets like News 12, Newsday, and The New York Times, and Marc began hosting and catering private parties during that time. More and more, people began socializing in the kitchen with him and asking him culinary questions.
After the launch of Food Network, Marc saw food as an entertainment tool and set out to make his passion for music and food a combination for success. He began entertaining at parties and events where he deejayed while preparing a gourmet meal and from then on the DJ Chef was born.
Marc’s cooking class parties became popular enough that he was beginning to receive invitations to major events. Marc has appeared on multiple television shows and segments including: the Food Network’s “What’s Hot!, What’s Cool!,” MTV’s Celebrity Spring Break Style special with Lindsay Lohan, MSNBC’s Entertainment Hot List, Discovery Channel’s Party Planner, FUSE TV’s One Year Anniversary live on IMX, What’s Hot in the Hamptons with Gina Glickman and in an NBC News feature on the hottest trends in entertainment at the Biz Bash Event Style Show.
To mark and honor his success, Marc was recently honored by his Alma Mater, the New York Restaurant School, and will be inducted into their Hall of Fame for his achievement and innovation in the culinary field. Marc also actively supports charities and organizations. Marc served as Honorary Chairman for an event to help in the fight against AIDS with LIACC and as the honorary chef for the March of Dimes Star Chef’s Gala. He was also the emcee and judge for the Long Island Top Amateur Chef competition which raises funds for a scholarship to send a talented teen to culinary school. DJ Chef is currently working on his own television series and cookbook and is performing nationwide at special events, corporate functions, launch parties, grand openings, food festivals and trade shows. His cooking show would feature music and live musical performances from major recording artists wrapping up the show. Marc has demonstrated and entertained packed houses with his beats and captivating culinary style at the Hamptons Home Show, Williams Sonoma, ICE Culinary, Bloomingdales, Macy’s Herald Square, Stew Leonard’s, New York Culinary Festival, Viking Culinary, Fairway, East Bay Farms, Hicks Nursery, Alameda County Fair, and multiple trade shows and public events.
For additional information, video clips, photos and booking information, visit his website at www.DJCHEF.com.
Labels: biography
posted by DJ CHEF at
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