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Stephen Hamilton: Jamaica's celebrity chef

Published:Thursday | August 8, 2013 | 12:00 AM
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R&B superstar Ne-Yo and his personal chef, Stephen Hamilton.
Herb mashed potato with beef tenderloin floated on top with sautéed vegetables, topped off with a red wine reduction.
Dubbed the garden of Eskay, it's a salad mixture of lettuce, tomatoes and raisins soaked in orange juice.
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Being the private chef of international superstar Ne-Yo is no small task, and fast-rising culinary professional Stephen Hamilton successfully delivered on his promise to leave an indelible mark on the taste buds of the superstar.

"It's easily one of the most rewarding and challenging experiences I have had as a chef since I began my culinary career," the 25-year-old chef and owner of Eskay Caterers told Food.

"It would be anyone's dream to cater for a celebrity, and especially after leaving university just last year. I placed my best foot forward and left a lasting impression, welcoming Ne-Yo back to Jamaica in July for his video shoot for You Girl with Shaggy. He was on a diet, but that didn't pose a problem for me as I was able to develop a menu on the spot for him that met his dietary needs," Hamilton explained.

Despite his age, Hamilton is no stranger to major accomplishments. He won the JCDC food festival for Kingston in the Mystery Basket section this year and was also a judge for the All Jamaica Grill Off competition in June. Hamilton has also catered for the Usain Bolt Foundation, Samsung Manufacturer Camera Launch, Whirlpool Manufacturer and, most recently, was themanager for Back Yard BBQ, catering for 2,310 patrons at the SPF weekend's Fiction Beach.

"I set a standard of excellent customer service as well as creating cuisine that everyone will enjoy and talk about. I am humbled by the experiences and the opportunities that I am being exposed to, and it just goes to show that if you put in the work and stay committed to the process, you will be rewarded at the end of the day," the young chef revealed.

While at the University of Technology, Hamilton volunteered at various catering companies and did a stint as a trainee food and beverage manager at Altamont West Hotel. There, he learnt what it was like to start from the bottom and work his way up to the top - a lesson he revealed has helped him in his business operations.

"I know what it is like to start from the bottom, but you don't have to stay there. There are some discussions to have my own culinary show and this is something I am willing to invest in to improve my skills and my business name. I am determined to continue breaking barriers and building new platforms for myself."