by Gina Scarpa

 

On the season premiere of Rocco's Dinner Party, three chefs (Britt, Geoff, and J.J.) cooked for Rocco DiSpirito in order to gain the opportunity to serve his guests. Britt was eliminated after the first challenge, leaving Geoff and J.J. to duke it out. Both performed well but J.J.'s theme and food outshined his competitor and he left the loft $20,000 richer. Today, we spoke to J.J. in an exclusive interview about his experiences on the show.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: When did you first start cooking?
A. J.J.: I started cooking at the age of 6 or 7. When you wake up one day and you just know that it's the right thing to do or it's meant to be, that's how it was. As a kid, I was meant to be in the kitchen. I was always meant to be around food, someway, somehow.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What made you decide to audition for Rocco's Dinner Party?
A. J.J.: I tried out for Chopped but I kept getting passed on. With Top Chef, you have to know someone or figure out a way to get on. I filled out an application for Rocco's Dinner Party and I didn't even know it was on Bravo at the time. The rest is history.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Rocco has some pretty famous friends. Were you intimidated by the guest list?
A. J.J.: Well, I was able to choose my food before I saw who everybody was. Once I saw Marcus, I was like, "Now I'm cooking for two guys who have 3 stars in the NY Times?!" At the end of the day, I just looked at it like cooking food. I was like, "This is what you do every day of your life." I wanted to make sure it was the best of the best.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What did you think of Geoff as a competitor?
A. J.J.: I commend Geoff. He's a really good cook. He took a lot of risks. I don't know if I could say the monkfish that he cooked was proper, though. I would never eat it rare.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Your oxtail was a big topic of discussion, both on the show and afterwards. Why did you use it?
A. J.J.: When I started thinking about a speakeasy, and straightforward food, it's what I'm known for. It showcased that I know how to cook something properly. I showed a lot of flavors with blood oranges and carmelized brussel sprouts. I said it on the show. I said, "IfI cook oxtail properly, I'll win. If I don't, I'll lose."

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Do you feel that that dish is what put you over the top?
A. J.J.: Well, I also love to cook grits. When I put them on the plate, I forgot the cheddar cheese. They were overcooked. People remember the first and last thing they eat. My banana bread pudding - I put a lot of flavor into that.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: One thing I really like about the show is that it features up and coming chefs, chefs that we don't really know about. There's an excitement about it!
A. J.J.: It's great! All my friends are chefs and some people have a problem with someone like Tom Colicchio, who gets sponsored by Coca Cola. At the end of the day, what's wrong with that? Chefs have always been on this back burner, pleasing everyone else. Why can't they become at the top of the food chain:?" It gives us exposure. For me, an up and coming chef, it's like, "Where did this guy come from? Why haven't I eaten his food?" It really gives us good exposure, versus a Chopped where you're cooking a crazy, mystery basket of food. It shows we thought out a plan and executed it. For me, I think it lets people know I can cook.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What are you up to now and what will you do with your winnings?
A. J.J.: I'm working on two projects of my own. I'm working on a food social network called Your Palette and I'm also working on a healthy lifestyle drink called OMJ. I'm going to take some of the money and donate it to my dad's nonprofit basbketball program. I'm going to put it into projects I really believe in. I'm not just gonna go shopping or take girls out.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: How can people stay up to date with you?
A. J.J.: On Facebook, there's my Chef JJ fan page. On Twitter, it's ChefJoeJohnson and I have a website, chefjoejohnson.com.

 

Rocco's Dinner Party airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on Bravo.

 

(Image courtesy of Bravo)

 

Follow Gina @ginascarpa