FOOD

DJ CHEF Marc Weiss
“The Chef That Rocks”
His recipe was simple. Spin the hottest music while mixing in some delectable gourmet dishes. Throw in some
celebrity soirees along with a TV pilot and add some buzz. For nearly 10 years, the DJ Chef has been hitting up a
scene that has never been tapped. DJ Chef is the only culinary entertainer who simultaneously cooks gourmet food
and deejays at special events & private parties worldwide.
While his experience and determination have guided him to the top of his game, Marc doesn’t lose his head
amongst all the glitz and glam. His humble beginning keeps him grounded and influences him to work harder and
longer to reach his goals.
Raised by his grandparents, Marc recalls growing up in a different kind of Long Beach (NY). Long gone were the
big name celebrities like Clara Bow and Marilyn Monroe and the fancy hotels. Marc’s humble start came from his
great grandfather “Poppy,” who he describes as the most selfless and generous man. Marc’s great grandfather served
in World War I and was an army cook. After the war, his great grandfather saved his money and bought a little push
cart to sell fruits and vegetables in New York City. He worked long hours, opening the cart first thing in the morning
and closing it down very late at night, recalls Marc. “My grandma says he gave away as much as he sold!” Marc
laughed.
During the 1920s, Marc’s great grandfather had bigger plans and opened a small store in Harlem. And in 1935, he
moved to the City of Long Beach and opened up a green market called King Kohen—located where Waldbaum’s in
Long Beach is today. Marc used to visit the fresh fruit and vegetable market everyday with his grandmother to pick
him up from work after his long day.
“I remember running around the store grabbing vegetables and fruit and he would tell me what it was and why it
was so good,” Marc fondly recalled of his childhood. “He would always show me all of these vegetables and fruits just
from him. All he cared about was doing a good job and making sure all of the kids on the block had a fresh banana or
apple.”
Marc’s great grandfather has been the inspiration for his motivation and the love of his career. And, Marc has truly
learned a great lesson from “Poppy,” which has influenced his work today. Marc’s great grandfather worked at his
market until he was 90-years-old. “Love what you do,” he says. “My grandma is so passionate when she speaks
about him. He loved his work and loved his family.”
While food and cooking has always been Marc’s forefront, as a teen he began making his hobby into a reality.
Marc began deejaying at house parties when he was just 16. A couple years later he additionally took on a job as a
prep cook. After high school, Marc attended the New York Restaurant School in New York City. After earning his
toque, he went on to work with famed chefs Bobby Flay and Matthew Kenney and in fine kitchens throughout the city.
Marc found his culinary groove and returned to Long Island to cook at some of the hottest restaurants around. His
success as a noted chef was becoming a reality within local media outlets like News 12, Newsday, and The New York
Times, and Marc began hosting and catering private parties during that time. More and more, people began
socializing in the kitchen with him and asking him culinary questions. After the launch of Food Network, Marc saw
food as an entertainment tool and set out to make his passion for music and food a combination for success. He
began entertaining at parties and events where he deejayed while preparing a gourmet meal and from then on the
DJ Chef was born.
Marc’s unique talents became popular enough that he was beginning to receive invitations to major events. He
has been hired to perform for a variety of celebrity events including Christie Brinkley & B.Smith's Blue Moon BBQ in
the Hamptons, James Blunt's CD Release Party and has appeared on multiple television shows and segments
including: the Food Network’s “What’s Hot!, What’s Cool!,” MTV’s Celebrity Spring Break Style special with Lindsay
Lohan, MSNBC’s Entertainment Hot List, Discovery Channel’s Party Planner, FUSE TV’s One Year Anniversary live
on IMX, What’s Hot in the Hamptons with Gina Glickman and in an NBC News feature on the hottest trends in
entertainment at the Biz Bash Event Style Show.
To mark and honor his success, Marc was recently honored by his Alma Mater, the New York Restaurant School,
and will be inducted into their Hall of Fame for his achievement and innovation in the culinary field. Marc also actively
supports charities and organizations. Marc served as Honorary Chairman for an event to help in the fight against
AIDS with LIACC and as the honorary chef for the March of Dimes Star Chef’s Gala. He was also the emcee and
judge for the Long Island Top Amateur Chef competition which raises funds for a scholarship to send a talented teen
to culinary school.
DJ CHEF has been hailed as a pioneer in the food/music/entertainment industry and has demonstrated &
entertained packed houses with his beats and captivating culinary style at the Hamptons Home Show, Williams
Sonoma, NYC Food & Festival, ICE Culinary, Bloomingdales, Macy’s Herald Square, Stew Leonard’s, New York
Culinary Festival, Viking Culinary, W Hotel's Adventures in Wonderland, Fairway, East Bay Farms, Toronto Hot &
Spicy Food Festival, Chicago Chef's Ball @ Bella Lounge, Atlantic City Food & Wine Festival, A Taste of Palisades at
the Palisades Center, Texas Produce Association's Taste of Summer, Alameda County Fair, and multiple trade shows
and public events.For additional information, video clips, photos and booking information, visit his website at
www.DJCHEF.com.
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Nig htlif e and Ente rtain men t Ma gaz ine
CHILLED MAGAZINE
Eat, Drin k an be Mer ry!
SPRING ISSUE 2009
CHILLEDMAGAZINE.COM
CRAFTY COCKTAILS
MOLECULAR
MIXOLOGY
VODKA
EAT, DRINK & BE MERRY IN
CHICAGO
V2 I4
DJ CHEF
THE CHEF THAT ROCKS!
THE
ISSUE
THE AMAZING JOHNATHAN THE MARGARITA DJ PAUL OAKENFOLD
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V2 ISSUE 4 2009
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U.S. and Canada $4.99
BEER PIONEER JIM KOCH THE THIRSTY TRAVELER FLAIRAHOLIKS
NIGHTLIFE BARTENDERS BAR TRICKS COMEDY FOOD PARTY PICS ALL INSIDE!
FEATURED ON “WHAT’S HOT! WHAT’S COOL!”
LINDSAY LOHAN & DJ CHEF CO-HOSTS MTV CELEBRITY SPRING BREAK
AVNET IRON CHEF BATTLE
NAPA VALLEY, CA
FOOD
By BRADEN KEIL
Call him “DJ CHEF.”
Chef Marc Weiss
makes a living out of
a unique combination
of his twin passions
for music and food:
He'll pump up the
volume, while he
sautés the squab at
your next dinner
party.
He'll be featured on
the Food Network's
show "What's Hot!
What's Cool!" on
Monday.
Thank you DJ CHEF! Your performance
at the CES iHip both brought an
exciting energy and added greatly to
the Snooki appearance and created a
huge buzz. We want you for all
upcoming iHip events. –Jackie Giaccio,
Wunderlich PR
”With Snooki present
spinning dance tunes
iHip was one of the
booths at CES this
Gilbert, Huffington Post
and DJ CHEF
all afternoon,
most popular
year.” –Jason
DJ CHEF HEADLINES THE
TORONTO HOT & SPICY FOOD FESTIVAL
DJ CHEF Thank you for your entertaining performance at Summer Fest. Everyone
love you and all I can say is welcome to the Kewadin family! We are looking
forward to having you and next year. –Russ McKerchie, Festival Director
OFFICIAL PAPER OF THE HAMPTONS
“Usher’s Committed”
It’s the event women across the tri-state area have been dreaming about for months, Super
Saturday, the ultimate high-end designer garage sale. Donna Karan, Charla Lawhon, In
Style and Kelly Ripa hosted this years 8th annual Super Saturday, benefiting the Ovarian
Cancer Research Fund.
Even the man who invented the phrase, “Shopping for a good cause,” former Mayor
Rudolph Giuliani and wife Judith Nathan couldn’t resist the upscale bargains. Other celebrity shopaholics included Cathy
Moriarty, Christy Turlington, Petra Nemcova, Ines Rivero,
Nicole Miller, TLC’s T-Boz just to name a few. Even Howard
Stern showed up with his sweetheart, Beth Ostrosky. When I
asked Howard why he came out to support the cause he
motioned to Beth and laughed, “I do whatever she tells me.”
There’s no real evidence yet, to the reports that Usher’s girlfriend, model
Eishia Brightwell, is three months pregnant with his child, but it’s apparent
Usher loves kids. This past Saturday evening at the 6th annual Art For Life
Benefit, Usher attended the event for the first time ever with Eishia by his side.
I managed to lure the superstar away from Eishia for a few minutes, by telling him we just happen to share
the same birthday, October 14th.
The mega star, whose original dance moves have been compared to Michael
Jackson, revealed to me why he decided to attend AFL, “Anytime someone who
is blessed makes an act that is from the heart as a philanthropist I want to be
supportive. I really do respect the cause. Usher admitted he is interested in expanding his organization
for children with the help of Russell Simmons and his Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation.
Russell and Kimora Lee Simmons would be the
perfect partners when it comes to raising money for
kids. The couple has hosted the AFL benefit at their
East Hampton estate since 2000 and this year raised
more than $1.3 million to benefit art education in NYC
Meanwhile in East Hampton, EECO Farm’s Blue Moon Ball Barbecue cochaired by Christie Brinkley & B. Smith featured several celebrity chefs’
cuisine including DJ CHEF Marc Weiss who was cookin’ up his specialty, eats
and beats just before performing late night for the first time at Star Room, where
he literally got the entire club up and moving.
How can you get invited to one of the hottest celeb filled after parties on the East
End? Get out and support Community Theater and donate money to
Playwrights Kitchen East. Last week’s guest list included Steven Weber,
Wendie Malick, and Jack Mulcahy. This Sunday, August 7th, Mercedes Ruehl stars in, “Women Who Steal” 8 p.m. at Guild
Hall. For more information, go to www.playwrightskitchen.com.
Photos: Usher, Kelly Ripa, Kimora Lee Simmons, Alicia Keys and DJ CHEF & Gina Glickman.
Until next week-Life is short, you only live once, so party on!
Director, Writer, Producer, Entertainment & Lifestyle Correspondent, Gina Glickman is currently creating shows for MTV and can
be seen Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays starring on News 12 Long Island’s “What’s Hot in the Hamptons.”
May 18, 2009
Dear Marc:
Thanks so much for hosting our Chefs Uncorked: Kick-off Party this past
weekend. Your “eats and beats” were enjoyed by all. As the event had
several chef participants and the food service required several
announcements during the evening, we all appreciated your willingness to
step in an enthusiastically promote each of the evening’s star chefs as well
as commanding the dance floor with your great choice of tunes.
I now understand why DJ Chef is such a hot property on the party and
special event circuit. You delivered beyond our expectations and set the
tone for a fabulous weekend! Please feel free to add me to your client
reference list.
Best wishes,
Stuart Racey
Executive Producer
Greater New York Wine & Food Festival
516-944-0026 phone
[email protected]
DJ CHEF
Marc Weiss
534 East Park Ave
Long Beach, NY 11561
Dear Marc,
I wanted to let you know that our clients thoroughly enjoyed the DJ CHEF
cooking events. Sometimes cooking can be intimidating if you are not used
to working your way around a kitchen, but our guests felt the "DJ CHEF"
event allowed them to participate in the "joy of cooking" without the
weight of being an "Iron Chef."
Thanks for the special music requests for our group too; it really did
make the night!
Cheers!
Rebecca
Rebecca Johnson
WebMD Health
Consumer Markets
111 Eighth Avenue |
New York, New York 10011
[email protected]
T: 212.624.3766
F: 646.674.5359
"DJ CHEF brought an entirely unique element to our event - he had our
crowd dancing and going crazy over his Pulled Pork Sliders as soon as
they walked in. We're always looking for a way to make our events more
fun than the last, and DJ CHEF definitely delivered on that. The
server/dancers were also a great touch to round out some great
entertainment for the night. Looking forward to
working with DJ CHEF again soon for sure!"
-Brandee Simoncini, AOL Special Events
330 W. 34th Street I 17th Floor I New York, NY 10001 I P: 212.239.5555 I F: 212.239.2827
July 7, 2008
Dear DJ Chef,
I wanted to drop you a quick note to thank you for performing at our corporate
event and entertaining our guests. The music and food tastings were great and
our guests were very impressed! We all had a great time.
It was a pleasure working with you on this and I hope to work with you again in
the near future.
Best,
Christine Sweeney
Promotion Manager
amNewYork