Humanizing Chefs: Jason Louda

Name — Jason Louda

Where do you Cook? — Executive Chef, Garnish Catering

Where are you from originally? — I was born in Cincinnati and
raised in the hills.

Favorite Food(s) –Pizza, Chicken Wings and Spicy Chinese Food

Favorite Chef(s) — Jackson Rouse, Ryan Santos and Patrick Hauge-
they were changing the whole game before covid

Favorite Cincy Restaurant(s) (Past or Present) — Szechuan Chili,La
Mexicana(technically Newport),and Camp Washington Chili

Favorite Food Memory or Meal — My wife and I’s first date was at
BW3’s…it was close by. I couldn’t finish my meal from nerves, but
left knowing I was going to spend the rest of my life with her.

I first knew I wanted to be a chef when — I always knew. I was
born for this. I’ve been cooking since I was 10 years old and I
have always loved to create and work with my hands.

If I weren’t a chef, I would be — working outdoors, in nature.
Probably with the national parks or forestry service.

My first job was — I was the fry cook/dish washer at a small
southern restaurant called Po’Folks.

Why I love my job, in three words — My team rocks!

If I could have dinner with anyone, past or present, it would be-
Jesus…Because I have questions. Elvis, because the man was
fascinating and he could eat. And JFK…again, I have questions.

My favorite book is — Fiction: Anything by Steven King.
Nonfiction:Spoonbread, Smokehouse Ham, and Scuppernong Wine by
Joseph Dabney

Favorite thing to cook after a busy service -Lol…like most chefs,
I don’t really cook after work. If I’m keeping it clean, it’s
usually a quick steak and a protein shake. If not…Skyline.

Favorite Movie(s) — Oh, Brother, Where art Thou?,Big Trouble in
Little China, and Black Dynamite

Favorite TV show(s) — Community, Parks and Rec, and anything from
Marvel

Favorite Song(s) — Currently…”Coal” by Tyler Childers, “Mercury in
Retrograde” by Sturgill Simpson, “Blank Space” by Miss Taylor
Swift

Favorite Band or Musician — Gawd, this is tough to pin down…Tyler
Childers, Colter Wall, Taylor Swift, and Clutch.

Favorite Place to travel –The New River Gorge area, West By,god
Virginia

Favorite Hobby(s) –hiking, reading and amateur black smithing.

Favorite Quote –“It is not the critic who counts;not the man who
points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds
could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is
actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and
blood; who strives valiantly; who errs; who comes short again and
again; because there is no effort without error and
shortcoming;buy who does actually strive to do the deeds; who
knows great enthusiasms; the great devitions; who spends himself
in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of
high achievement, and who at worst, if he fails, at least fails
while Dari g greatly, so that his place shall never be with those
cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat.” Theodore
Roosevelt

Biggest pet peeve -Internet culture and the fake people it
produces. Too many people are able to claim to be good at
something without anyone ever testing their mettle.

Your motivational quote for other cooks/chefs -Be Undeniable

My advice to future culinary pros — Be irreverent, ask yourself
why not…a lot. This is just food, there are no rules and the
people who insist there are fear change.