Introduced to the art of fine food preparation as a teenager under his father's watchful eye, Chef John Maxwell's passion for culinary excellence has earned him a reputation for quality that is unsurpassed. He and his father, also a chef, burst on the Richmond scene in the 70s with the opening of Maxwell's in Richmond's fashionable West End. For the next six years, Maxwell's was the place to go for nouveau cuisine and hot jazz. He later made his talents available as executive chef with hotels such as Commonwealth Park Suites and Hyatt and was enlisted to manage business dining for the city's top corporations including Ethyl, Philip Morris and NationsBank. The Chef consistently receives culinary awards including competition medals such as The Governor's Cup for Seafood Excellence and the Virginia State Fair Chili Competition Best in Show.
As Chef owner of Chef Maxwell's Restaurant in Richmond, Maxwell, and his wife Judith, recieved many accolades for its innovative approach to Southern Dining.
A Certified Executive Chef, Maxwell has served as president of the American Culinary Federation - Virginia Chefs Association. And has been inducted into the ACF's elite American Acadamy of Chefs His deep commitment to addressing the issue of hunger and malnutrition among our nation's children led him to offer his services and expertise to organizations with the same goal. He has served as the Southeast Regional Chairman of The Chef and the Child Foundation, the non-profit arm of the American Culinary Federation, and as Executive Chef and Director of the Central Virginia Foodbank Community Kitchen Initiative. The Chef also volunteers his time regularly for a variety of non-profit culinary events.
Chef Maxwell has been chef instructer at the J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College School of Culinary Arts, Tourism, and Hospitality since 2002 and recently completed studies at Virginia Commonwealth University where he was awarded Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus in Culinary Arts Education.
For the past several years Chef has been working with the Commonwealth of Virginia using his culinary expertise and his knowlege of Southern Cooking and Seafood to help in the Commonwealth's marketing efforts in this country and abroad. He has visited Korea, Belgium, Iceland, and Honduras in an ongoing effort to train hotel chefs in the fine art of Virginia Cooking.
With formal training from Virginia Commonwealth University's Interior Design Department and years of experience in floral design and hospitality, Judy gives customers confidence that every detail of their special event will be handled with care.
Judy's talent for combining natural ingredients and high quality silk componants in stunning centerpieces has created a strong demand for her work. Already a fixture in silent auctions for a number of charities, there is a growing demand for her art in area homes.
Sometimes food is the centerpiece of the event. But sometimes the food is understated, leaving room for the event's ambience to capture guests' hearts. Chef Maxwell's Catering Company also is fully licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia to provide alcoholic beverages anywhere in the state. From the simplest punch to the most elaborate bar, count on Chef Maxwell's for unexcelled beverage service. The important thing at Chef Maxwell's is that the customer remains center focus. The menu and party design serves each customer, for each event.
Much of Chef Maxwell's Catering Company's success can be attributed to the creativity and innovation that Judy Maxwell brings to the business. Her keen attention to detail and unique designs provide the flair and distinction that sets Chef Maxwell's Catering events apart from the crowd.
Why Chef Maxwell's?
As central Virginia's premier caterer, Chef Maxwell's Catering Company staff promises to raise the expectations of Richmonders regarding their dining experiences and make "5-Star Dining" available in every home and business for every occasion. The company opened in Richmond in 1994 and since has created dazzling and memorable affairs for some of Richmond's most notable citizens, including governors and corporate executives, as well as for the City's major corporations.
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