Zach Lewison Culinary Management Florida Community College

Cooking Up Success, From FCCJ To Beijing

Zach Lewison
Florida Community College, Culinary Management

When Zach Lewison fell in love with cooking at a young age, he had no idea where in the world it would take him. As it turned out, after pursuing his dream at FCCJ, it took him all the way to Beijing, China, where he now serves as chef at the Union Bar and Grille.

“I knew from a young age that I wanted to cook,” Zach said. “I used to help my aunt cook dinner on her farm in Iowa. Then when I was fifteen, I started working as a dish washer and fell in love with the restaurant business. I worked my way up the line to cook.”

“When it came time for college, my father Jim gave me the idea to make cooking my career. We looked into culinary schools, and FCCJ was the best choice for me.”

Ask Zach what his favorite things about FCCJ were, and he is quick to answer. “That would have to be Chef Harrold and Chef Grigsby. They made school fun for the first time in my life. I can still hear Chef Grigsby saying, ‘Pile it high and catch their eye!’”

After leaving FCCJ in 2001, Zach made quick progress in his profession in the Jacksonville area. “Since I’ve left, I have been a sous chef at River City Brewing Company and at JJ’s Bistro de Paris. Then I moved on to become head chef at Mondo Grill and at The Grotto wine bar. I eventually became general manager at Café Carmon.”

Although he was born in a small town outside Cleveland, Zach moved to Jacksonville with his family when he was young, and he considers it his hometown. Right now, he finds himself quite at home in Beijing.

“I loved all my other jobs, but my job now in China has to take the cake. We’re an American-style steakhouse in Beijing. With this job, I was able to see the Olympics in 2008. I also travel a lot to places like Hong Kong and Singapore. It’s a wonderful opportunity to be here and to teach my cooks the American style of cooking.”

When asked about his long-term goals, Zach said, “How can I ask for more when I’m already having the time of my life in China?” His only regret about his experience at FCCJ? “I wish they had taught me to speak Mandarin. My life would be so much easier!”