Our Award-Winning Executive Chef
Derwin L. Jackson is a Certified Nutritionist & Culinary Chef – a native of Mobile, AL, residing in Atlanta, GA. Affectionately called Chef DJ, he says emphatically, "I love to cook, I love to teach, and I love to eat well!" He is a Summa Cum Laude graduate and former Chef Instructor of Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts with a Bachelor’s Degree in Culinary Management. Everybody knows that Chef DJ love the kids. He's also garnered an explosive 4 year tenure as Chef Instructor at Gwinnett County's Berkmar High School where he built and launched the school's first Award Winning State Culinary Competition Team while popularizing and growing the school's culinary class enrollment to an impressive 264 students (largest ever). With over 13 years of culinary arts and entertainment experience - spanning from Classic French, Fusion, and Contemporary cuisine to live jazz piano performance and music production - Chef DJ is a well decorated patron of the arts. He is a member of the ACF Atlanta Chefs Association Board of Directors, Global Nutrition Association and maintains 9 industry certifications.
Promoting good eats, lifestyle and health in each endeavor, Chef DJ has been featured in Good Life Magazine, The Restaurant Informer, Sizzle Magazine, and Various Food & Music internet sites. He's excelled as Banquet Chef for the PGA Golf Tournament, Production Chef for the Augusta National Master's Golf Tournament, Exhibition Chef at UPS Corporate Office, and Freelance Special Events Chef and Caterer. He was appointed to Le Cordon Bleu Advisory Board in 2016, and has captured an array of Chef Competition Spotlights including Winner of the Atlanta Food Service Chef Competition, Atlanta Food Service Tailgate Competition, Grand Prize Winner and People's Choice Award Recipient of Sutherland's Food Service One Pot Wonder, and National Winner in Maple Leaf Farms Discover Duck Contest. He’s currently the Executive Chef of Chopping It Up, LLC, and Executive Director of CIU Global Foundation, LLC. His ambition to teach and share his craft and talents prompted the writing of his first cookbook - Chopping It Up With Chef DJ, An awe-inspiring 8 year personal health battle and ultimate victory prompted the writing of his new cookbook, Health Matters! Cookbook & More to encourage all to Eat Better, Do Better, Be Better, Live Better.
In the genres of music and ministry, he established tenure as Administrator and Minister of Music & Arts at Hopewell Baptist Church, in Norcross, GA, under Dr. William L. Sheals, Senior Pastor. Chef DJ is also a jazz pianist and has launched independent projects including a Poetry CD and three Inspirational Jazz CD's. Fanning the flames, he’s also written and produced Award-winning jingles for fast-food giant McDonald's Corporation, and Stellar Recording Artist and Gospel Diva Dottie Peoples. Chef DJ is a passionate chef, nutritionist, and a gifted teacher/author with a philosophical motto to: "Keep it simple, be intentional, and make it beautiful".
Promoting good eats, lifestyle and health in each endeavor, Chef DJ has been featured in Good Life Magazine, The Restaurant Informer, Sizzle Magazine, and Various Food & Music internet sites. He's excelled as Banquet Chef for the PGA Golf Tournament, Production Chef for the Augusta National Master's Golf Tournament, Exhibition Chef at UPS Corporate Office, and Freelance Special Events Chef and Caterer. He was appointed to Le Cordon Bleu Advisory Board in 2016, and has captured an array of Chef Competition Spotlights including Winner of the Atlanta Food Service Chef Competition, Atlanta Food Service Tailgate Competition, Grand Prize Winner and People's Choice Award Recipient of Sutherland's Food Service One Pot Wonder, and National Winner in Maple Leaf Farms Discover Duck Contest. He’s currently the Executive Chef of Chopping It Up, LLC, and Executive Director of CIU Global Foundation, LLC. His ambition to teach and share his craft and talents prompted the writing of his first cookbook - Chopping It Up With Chef DJ, An awe-inspiring 8 year personal health battle and ultimate victory prompted the writing of his new cookbook, Health Matters! Cookbook & More to encourage all to Eat Better, Do Better, Be Better, Live Better.
In the genres of music and ministry, he established tenure as Administrator and Minister of Music & Arts at Hopewell Baptist Church, in Norcross, GA, under Dr. William L. Sheals, Senior Pastor. Chef DJ is also a jazz pianist and has launched independent projects including a Poetry CD and three Inspirational Jazz CD's. Fanning the flames, he’s also written and produced Award-winning jingles for fast-food giant McDonald's Corporation, and Stellar Recording Artist and Gospel Diva Dottie Peoples. Chef DJ is a passionate chef, nutritionist, and a gifted teacher/author with a philosophical motto to: "Keep it simple, be intentional, and make it beautiful".