Chef DJ McCracken
is an award winning North Florida-based Sushi Chef,
focusing on Japanese inspired cuisine & technique.
Reach out for special inquiries.
DJ is an self taught intuitive chef who learned by doing, helping his grandfather catch and clean catfish since he was old enough walk. Not far into DJ’s culinary journey, his more experienced foreign chef friends would jokingly call him “Gaijin.”
”Giajin” a Japanese word for foreigners and non-Japanese. DJ has a huge adoration for the Japanese cooking methods & ingredients. At first glance, patrons might mistake him for a country fish monger.. but “looks can be deceiving.” He decided to own his unique new found identity and started serving his own brand of Giajin style Sushi.
Those early experiences led him to pursue a unique culinary style and he now combines traditional Japanese style Washoku techniques with his love for southern ingredients to create his own blend of Yoshuku —
Where “East Meets South” dining.
Background
Press & Awards
Hida Gyu Award of Excellence -
First chef to ever serve entire Hida A5 BMS12 Wagyu cow in United States
Historic Tuna Cutting Show -
Chef DJ drives culture by pioneering local culinary excellence, bringing the thrill of a whole tuna cutting in front of a live audience.
Kobe Beef Certification -
One of only 43 Chefs in the US serve real Kobe beef.
“Food has a story”
“
I believe that maintaining a health balance between honoring the past and exploring cutting edge technique trends leads to the unique and unknown. I teach my chefs how small details effect the story we wish to tell with our food.
— Chef DJ
I’d love to show you
Where “East Meets South”
