James Bethel

Born in Iowa, Chef Jay has been engaging in entrepreneurship since the age of 10, where he would make money from shoveling snow and mowing lawns for his community. When he reached high school age, he and a few friends started a catering business. That led him to make sandwiches and gourmet hamburgers for parties and events, and it was then that he discovered his talent and love for cooking. Since then, he has earned his degree in culinary arts and has been on a roll. He has opened up several restaurants including Big Texas BBQ and Waffle House in Bahrain, Jerk Shack in Brunswick, Georgia and Adrianne’s Steak and Wine shop in Miami, Florida. Now, with his latest business underway, Heavens Finest Lemonade, (which supplies a lemonade beverage now being sold at the Buford Highway Farmers Market in Atlanta) Chef Jay believes this will be the business that he needs to help accumulate wealth for him, his family and the generations to come, as well as others. Chefs acting bug happened when his catering company was asked to participate in a new reality show called “Catering Wars”. It was this moment in front of the camera that Chef knew he had found something that was very interesting. He began looking following casting companies to see what else he could. Five years later and a dozen films and TV shows, Chef Jay has become a real actor. “This has been something special to see myself on the big screen acting” says Chef. Chef has taken on this new venture on with the same passion he has put in to foodservice.