Cooking in Chowfancy Kitchen with Chef Jean-Daniel Bourgeacq

Chef-Jean Daniel Bourgeacq, who was born in Arcachon, France in the southwest region of Bordeaux brings us a great recipe for Beef Bourguignon and tells us about his passion, Paella & Co, The wood fired paella company that brings deliciousness to your home, party or corporate event! It doesn’t get much better than that!

Through time spent working in the food business and at our market, we meet the best people! Each day we greet and chat with customers, families and friends who love to cook up great meals at home, and love to enjoy time in the kitchen.

Over the years I have realized that my passion is combining food, people, family and home. I enjoy getting to know our customers on another level. Anthony and I love to hear what the people that we see each day and each week, are cooking at home. Ultimately our goal is to know exactly what they are looking for and how we can continually make our small family market, that much better.

Anthony and I met Jean-Daniel and his wife Cristina when they were looking for a special cut of pork for a special family gathering. Along the way, I found out that he was born in France, lived in Spain, and loves to cook paella. I was mesmerized, of course! Here is a little backstory on how Jean-Daniel got to where he is today and ended up at our market, subsequently cooking with me in Chowfancy Kitchen.

At thirteen, Jean-Daniel and his family moved from Arcachon, France, to the United States. Cooking was a big part of his life; he started experimenting different food combinations and simmering up soups at the age of seven. Preparing meals was a family affair, and he enjoyed cooking with his grandmother, mom, and sisters at home.

Jean-Daniel’s first job was at a French restaurant by the name of Chez Andre. At the restaurant, his job was to be the “dishwasher”; this reminds me of how our boys got their start at our market. Everyone starts in the sink!

In the mid-nineties, after a brief time in a traditional college setting, Jean-Daniel decided to move to Annapolis, MD, where he secured an internship for the summer at the Watergate in Washington, DC, under Jean-Louis Palladin, and at the time, Eric Ripert was the sous-chef.

Later, Jean-Daniel went back to college to finish his degree at the University of Iowa. He completed his studies in San Sebastián, Spain, in the Basque Country. Because he loved cooking, he joined a cooking fraternity and cooked with the group every week. While in Spain, Jean-Daniel worked for an American renewable energy company. His job required a lot of travel, and he enjoyed many different food experiences during that time.

A few years later, he was encouraged to attend culinary school, which led him to a job in Paris at a Michelin-starred restaurant. When he returned to the United States, his passion for food and preparing meals inspired him to start his own business, Paella & Co. Jean-Daniel commisioned a custom-made, wood-fired paella setup, allowing him to create beautiful meals for families celebrating special occasions, school events, and corporate gatherings. Through his company, he shares the joy of cooking.

You can find Jean-Daniel on instagram @paellaandcompany

Jean-Daniel Bourgeauq (347) 633- 1487

jdbourgeacq@gmail.com

https://www.instagram.com/paellaandcompany/

Watch the three-part video series below as Chef Jean-Daniel tells us about his path to cooking as well as his Wood-Fired Paella Company. Together, we will prepare a delicious Beef Bourguignon that you can recreate at home!