Strawberry Cooking Class with Chef Chris DeJesus of Moto - M Street

WHAT'S ON THE MENU?

Appetizer

strawberry bruschetta

baguette with burrata, pistachio, and basil

Soup

strawberry gazpacho

whole grain croutons, chili oil, and black pepper

Entrée

duck breast

strawberry-balsamic glaze, hakurei turnips, and ramp purée

Dessert

strawberry panna cotta

lemon-thyme pavlova, lemon poppy cake, and olive oil

ABOUT CHRIS

Growing up in an Italian family in northern New Jersey, Chris DeJesus begin cooking at a very

young age. His mother was a single parent with two jobs, so while she was at work, he and his

brother took over the dinner duties in their household. His first kitchen job began in an Italian

restaurant at the age of 15 after moving to South Florida with his family.

By the time he began thinking about colleges to attend, he realized cooking was something he

was good at and wanted to pursue. Chris attended Johnson and Wales culinary arts program in

Miami and started his first professional cooking job as a sophomore at the Eden Roc in Miami

Beach.

After finishing his degree, Chris moved to New Orleans where he worked under celebrity chef

John Besh. Here, he found his passion for charcuterie and love of all things creole. He then

moved to Washington, DC for a few years before moving back to the south and settling in

Nashville in 2016. Chris finally found his way to M Street as Chef de Cuisine in November of

2018.

“The biggest asset I bring to the kitchen is that I’ve picked up a lot of influences from every city

I’ve lived in and bring them all together while cooking.” In his role as Chef de Cuisine, Chris’s

favorite thing to do is to mentor and teach. When he’s not on the block, you can find Chris

spending time with his wife and six month old son, reading cookbooks and hanging out at local

coffee shops.