My name is Jeremy Salamon and I’m an everyday 16 year old teen with an extraordinary passion for food and cooking. As you can tell by the pictures on this page, I’ve had the opportunity meet some pretty remarkable Chefs. All of them have given me some great advice that continues to inspire me each and every day. Hopefully, through this web site I can share some of that inspiration with you.

My parents have told me that for as long as they could remember I’ve been very creative and had an undeniable love of Food. When I was five years old I developed a taste for salads, followed by mussels (and all kinds of seafood) and from then on I never ate off a kids menu. I began helping my mom and my two grandmothers cook all kinds of meals for holiday’s, weekend dinner’s, birthday’s, or just any big family get together. When I was about nine years old I started watching the Food Network after school, before long I was hooked. I watched as many Food Network shows as possible and began reading lots of cook books (I have close to a 100). I soon started asking my parents about taking cooking classes, they began looking in our area for schools that would teach young kids. After a long search they found one which was quite a far drive, but it didn’t matter. I wanted to cook and my parents were willing to support me.

Before I continue, I want you to know that I’m just a normal teenager (well, almost). I love to hang out with my friends, watch movies and go on family vacations. I run almost every day and one day I’d like to enter the N.Y Marathon. I enjoy reading when I have some down time and not just cookbooks. My parents have always encouraged me to follow my passion and thats what I’m going to do. Oh, one more thing, I was (and still am) so crazy about food that the theme of my Bar-Mitzvah was based on Food and Food Network Chefs.

When I was 13 my parents desperately tried to find more places for me to learn more about cooking. The crazy thing is that even with the popularity of the Food Network there isn’t a lot of organized cooking programs for kids. Then they discovered the web site for the C’est Si Bon cooking school in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, owned and operated by Dorette and Rich Snover. C’est Si Bon offers adult and kids cooking classes throughout the year as well as summer programs for kids and teens. Because of their love of food and cooking they want to educate kids and give them an appreciation of what it would be like to become a chef. So my parents sent me to their camp and I had an incredible experience. After that summer I knew for sure I wanted to become a Chef. The coolest part about it was being able to relate to other teens who liked to cook, just like me. I now go back each summer as an intern to help teach kids as well as other teens. I consider Dorette to be one of my mentors as well as my friend.

After that summer, things just started to happen. I did as much cooking as possible and between, friends, family and school, I started to gain some notoriety. In February 2008 the Sun-Sentinel (South Florida Newspaper) included me in an article on kids that cook. After the article was written the Sun-Sentinel decided to shoot a video of me cooking for their web site. (click here for link to video). Around the same time the annual SoBe Food and Wine Festival came to South Beach, which happens to be hosted by Food Network. Somehow one of their producers came across the Sun-Sentinel article and decided to do a segment on me for their online series the “FN Dish” and was interviewed by the Amateur Gourmet, Adam Roberts (click here for link to my episode). Afterwards my family and I were invited to take a tour of the Food Network studios in New York City. It was an awesome experience to see what goes on behind the scenes and get the opportunity to meet some of the Food Network stars.

I’m about to start my Junior year at West Boca High School’s Culinary Academy (Boca Raton, Fl). This academy is a program within the school featuring a state of the art commercial kitchen with four years of culinary training. The program teaches students about the food service industry in addition to preparing those that choose (such as me) to continue their culinary education afterwards. When I graduate I plan on attending Culinary School and to one day open my own restaurant.

In early 2009 I wanted to find a way to share my passion and educate Kids, Teens and even Adults so I decided to create my own web site. With the help of my family we launched JeremyCooks.com in July 2009. On JeremyCooks.com you can follow me on my journey to becoming a chef, read my blog, get weekly tips, new recipes and watch me cook with some great chefs. I will also create as many dishes as I can and post my experiences with them and hopefully you will gain tips and advice. Most importantly I hope I can get you to see why I’m so excited about food and hopefully I can inspire you!!!!

Since we launched the site I’ve been featured in lots of magazine, newspapers, web sites and TV. I’ve also started working at Todd English’s Wild Olives (here in Boca Raton, FL). We also recently signed a development deal with a production company to create a television show based on me and JeremyCooks.com. How cool is that.....if it works out think of how many people I can share my passion with. I’ll keep you posted as things develop.

Well thats my story, at least for now. This site is dedicated to all kids and teens (and anyone else) who love Food. Even if cooking is something you love to do but not necessarily want to follow as a career, this is the place for you to hang out, and if you plan on becoming a Chef, well, just follow me and...............
............................... Keep on Cooking!!!

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