By Chef Xavier Jones
Photo by Stephanie Zollshan
The Past
When I was in 12th grade, in Philadelphia I took a cooking class, and the chef told me, “your touch, your hand-eye coordination, you’re on point. Do you ever think about going to college?” I looked at him. I said, “all I want to do is graduate from high school. I just don’t want to be that statistic.” He said, “Listen, there’s this program called the Le Cordon Bleu, and they have an outlet here in the States. On the other side of Pennsylvania, in Pittsburgh, I have some connections. Would you go?” And I said yes. My father told me if an opportunity comes, don’t waste it. It was the best decision that I ever made. That’s all it is. It’s one person believing in you. Believing in this guy who just wanted to graduate.
The Present
Now I own Firehouse Cafe and Bistro, in Adams, with Warren Dews, Jr., and another restaurant, at MASS MoCA, called Bigg Daddy’s Philly Steak House. We focus on, you know, Philly cheesesteaks, barbecue wings, tenders. That was my father’s dream—he passed five years ago—and I want to make sure that his dream stays alive.
The Future
I want people to know Firehouse Cafe and Bigg Daddy’s, but I also want them to know the man behind it all. And that’s Chef Xavier Jones. I’m embarking on a new journey, in the personal chef direction, cooking for personal and corporate events, for small family dinners and occasions. My father said, “you have the gift to make people smile through your cooking. You bring people together.” When you come from where I come from, you work to make sure you never go back there. And that was the passion behind my drive. I’m not done yet. I want to make sure that I open up the door for the next person.
