Oscar Johnson

**Late-breaking news: Oscar named Chef of the Year on Monday, August 8th, by the NCRLA. Congratulations!**

Oscar Johnson hails from Hampton, Virginia where his passion for cooking began at the age of 9, under the watchful eyes of his mother Jonne and his late grandmother Bertha who were phenomenal cooks in their own right. Oscar draws a lot of cooking inspiration from his family roots in Lawrenceville, Virginia, an area rich with food and agricultural history. Oscar's grandfather, Howard Hardy, and other extended family are all from this area.

In 2010, Oscar made the big move from Hampton Roads, VA to Charlotte, NC, to attend Johnson and Wales University. He'd graduate in 2014 with an Associates and Bachelor's degree in Culinary Arts and Foodservice Management. Since graduation, Oscar has worked in various settings to include country clubs, high volume eateries, and private catering for high profile clients. He is now ready to pay homage to Hampton Roads by cooking alongside his partner, Daryl Cooper II. Their partnership birthed Jimmy Pearls Virginia Soul Spot.