photography | DEOGRACIAS LERMA
JUSTIN DEAN | CHEF | CINCINNATI, OH
What was your first job?
I started working tobacco, mowing grass and putting up hay in the summer at probably 12, but my first real job was at Long John Silvers in Maysville Ky. I still hold the current world record for the most hush puppies dropped in a fryer in 1 minute
If you weren’t a _________, what would you be doing?
Professional fisherman, lobster or crab guy. I love the water and always love seeing where my food comes from.
What did you eat today?
Bridges Nepali for lunch and dinner will be homegrown tomatoes w/burrata & Madhouse Vinegar, grilled Webers sweet corn & Sakura Wagyu Teres Major and chimichurri from the garden.
What is your favorite place to grab a bite?
Bridges Nepali – Bouquet – Sotto – Salazar (RIP) – Camporosso – Bard’s Burgers – La Torta Loca – Chloe’s Eatery
What is a skill or talent that you’ve always wanted to learn?
Welding and fabrication, I’d also love to learn more about fixing old cars and motorcycles.
What inspires you to create?
Respecting the ingredients!!!
What are you reading at the moment?
I don’t read, I’ve actually only read one book in my life and that was Alive. Basically a book on survival and cannibalism, go figure.
Any movies or shows you’d recommend?
That’s Fucking Delicious-Jackass-Planet Earth
What are you currently working on or have recently completed?
We are working on a bunch of infrastructure projects at Lost Bridge, currently building a new stage/pavilion and Hugelkultur beds. I’m also getting ready to fix up an old tandoori oven for use at on farm dinners.
What is something you’re passionate about?
Sharing knowledge, nature, building community and getting the fuck outside!
When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Rapper or Breakdancer, but I couldn’t dance or sing so here we are.
What are your music go tos?
Old School Rap-Bluegrass-Country-Rock & Roll-Reggae-Grateful Dead, I’m all over the place
Know any good podcasts?
How I Built This-The Splendid Table-In The Red Clay-The Necessary Entrepreneur-A Taste of The Past-Penny Royal
How do you define success in your creative pursuits?
I define success as being happy and living in the day.
Describe your best day ever?
Offshore deep sea fishing with the family, spearfishing wrecks with Max Dean, happy hour at sunset and Mexican for dinner.
