Changing Perceptions at JVF Pantry
Jahvel Fraser is the chef and owner of JVF Pantry, a bespoke catering business in New York City. Photo by Clay Williams
“I can walk into any room that I want to at this point because of the self-respect that I have for myself and for the work that I do.”
By Jaila Eames
Jahvel Fraser, chef and owner of Queens-based catering business JVF Pantry, knew that cooking was his calling after preparing his first meal at just eight years old: a classic New Orleans jambalaya. After culinary school, he went on to work at Michelin-starred restaurants and cook in kitchens for James Beard Award-winning chefs, before founding JVF Pantry in 2018. Along the way, he had to overcome a multitude of obstacles, including prejudice from coworkers, impostor syndrome, and the challenge of scaling his operation when business rebounded after the COVID-19 pandemic. Jahvel’s story in the food industry is one about using success and hardship alike to propel himself forward.
Jaila Eames is a junior who goes to Vertex Partnership Academies in the Bronx. She loves to draw, write, create stories, listen to music, play video games (“Ace Attorney” being her favorite) and play guitar in her spare time. When she’s in school, she tries to be hardworking and respectful.
The Summer Youth Podcast Academy is The Bell’s immersive beginner podcasting workshop for New York City public school students. This year’s academy was made possible by support from the Spotify Studios Union.
