BUFFALO, N.Y. — Chef Darian Bryan has been turning up the heat with his elite cuisine in Buffalo for eight years now.
“I started cooking as a kid in Jamaica," he told Spectrum News Reporter Fadia Patterson.
Early on while cooking in his mother's Jamaican restaurant, he developed his skills not just as a chef, but a businessman. When he was given the option to migrate to the United States, he chose Buffalo over San Diego. Part of his reason for choosing the latter was because he wanted to see snow.
Once in the Queen City, he attended Culinary School at Erie Community College and Buffalo State.
“Put me anywhere in the kitchen or in my industry and I can work it," said Bryan.
Indeed he did put in the work. He started as a cook at Denny’s. Bryan worked at Hutch's Restaurant then moved on to becoming the master chef at Prima Cafe. It’s where he met his would-be-boss former Buffalo Bills player, Vontae Davis. It was Davis who referred the chef to Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs.
“I was Vontae Davis' personal chef," said Bryan. "He flew me down to Miami when he left the Buffalo Bills and I met all of these players."
He recalls the players saying, "This guy is awesome, I want this guy in my kitchen and in my home."
Chef Bryan says the players would fly him to wherever they lived and that that is how his relationship with Bills evolved.
"I’ve been all over cooking for these guys," added Chef Bryan.
As the executive chef of the Plating Society, he launched pop-up restaurants to cater to more people and share his Jamaican-inspired cuisine.
"I always had this urge to cook in front of people," said Bryan. "Like live cooking, live entertainment."
Chef Bryan knows how to put on a show, even when no one is watching. He says his signature fedora and tailored cook uniform are an important part of his presentation.
"When people book me it’s not only for the food, it's the entire package," explains Bryan. "I put on a show, I’m a showman. You get the swag, you get the food."
The 2019 Iron Chef competition winner stays in the kitchen sharing cooking videos, and he also authored a cook book about his colorful meals. Bryan says he'd like to own his own restaurant someday.
"I’m very passionate about using organic stuff, fresh ingredients, nothing frozen," adds Bryan.
From his small beginnings in Jamaica to being one of the most sought after chefs in the area, he has never doubted his decision to come to Buffalo.
"Food brings people together, food is love and I'm all about love and family," said Bryan. “Knowing a kid like me from Jamaica that didn’t grow up with anything and I'm cooking for stars and I'm making such a big impact in my community — it’s a great feeling."