Beyond the calm of the restaurant’s dining hall, bright flames flicker above the burners while pots and pans noisily trade places from
counter top to stove top.
Bodies hastily move about; a mad dash to keep up with an endless parade of orders. The heat: intense, stifling and all consuming, makes the space utterly unbearable, with sweat constantly washing the faces of those who dare to enter. Orchestrating the chaotic scene is the chef. Shea Stewart: master of the culinary universe, conservatively dressed, highly trained and the ultimate symbol of authority.
A reserved Kingstonian, Shea though short on words but big on whipping up scrumptious cuisines, isn’t your typical chef. The popular “bachelor chef” is unapologetically breaking the mold while carving his own success story, and Jamaica is starting to notice. Still basking in his youthful twenties and having achieved certification from HEART Runaway Bay, Shea is doing things on his own terms. After stints at Royal Plantation, Couples Ocho Rios and Café Aubergine, he decided to go it alone, launching his catering company, Elite Kreations, when he was just 22. His young age slyly conspiring against him, he initially grappled with convincing would-be customers that he was capable of executing the work he set out to do. They’ve since listened and Elite has been tapped by a long list of corporate clients and promoters, a la Digicel, Scotiabank, Reggae Sumfest and Daydreams, to cater a diverse mix of events.
Shea leveraged Elite’s success to kick start an online cooking show, Bachelor Chef, a fun, fast-paced spin on preparing creative yet simple Caribbean Fusion recipes. To market the vlog to a wider crowd, he began hosting a bi-annual, family food event, Bachelor Chef Cookout, an eclectic exposé of worldwide cuisines, from oriental to Mexican to Jamaican. Always looking to expand his culinary empire, he recently opened his signature restaurant, Shea’s @ Countryside Club, a relaxed dining experience with good food, good entertainment and good vibes.
For the proud chef, the title firmly places them in the position of boss: planning menus, managing the preparation of meals and instructing staff. At Elite, Shea is the leader but still a member of the team, an ever-present figure in the kitchen, working side by side with his employees on a daily basis. Though other chefs may shun basic tasks as activities they did in a past life, Shea continues to embrace every job in the kitchen: he still mops floors, still seasons chicken and personally heads out to the markets to pick up ground provisions and vegetables.It may not have been a life-long dream to become a chef but this quiet guy has seemingly found his place in the culinary world.
From the simple joy of feeding family and friends to the immense pride that swells within when a satisfied guest compliments his food, Shea has developed an unmatched love and passion for cooking.
“Cooking has brought me out of my shell, I’m confident in what I do and I know this is what I’m meant to do” Shea shares. “I live my life by accomplishing and dreaming again, and ultimately I want to take my talent and do more than what is expected of me.
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Beyond the calm of the restaurant’s dining hall, bright flames flicker above the burners while pots and pans noisily trade places from
counter top to stove top.
Bodies hastily move about; a mad dash to keep up with an endless parade of orders. The heat: intense, stifling and all consuming, makes the space utterly unbearable, with sweat constantly washing the faces of those who dare to enter. Orchestrating the chaotic scene is the chef. Shea Stewart: master of the culinary universe, conservatively dressed, highly trained and the ultimate symbol of authority.
A reserved Kingstonian, Shea though short on words but big on whipping up scrumptious cuisines, isn’t your typical chef. The popular “bachelor chef” is unapologetically breaking the mold while carving his own success story, and Jamaica is starting to notice. Still basking in his youthful twenties and having achieved certification from HEART Runaway Bay, Shea is doing things on his own terms. After stints at Royal Plantation, Couples Ocho Rios and Café Aubergine, he decided to go it alone, launching his catering company, Elite Kreations, when he was just 22. His young age slyly conspiring against him, he initially grappled with convincing would-be customers that he was capable of executing the work he set out to do. They’ve since listened and Elite has been tapped by a long list of corporate clients and promoters, a la Digicel, Scotiabank, Reggae Sumfest and Daydreams, to cater a diverse mix of events.
For the proud chef, the title firmly places them in the position of boss: planning menus, managing the preparation of meals and instructing staff. At Elite, Shea is the leader but still a member of the team, an ever-present figure in the kitchen, working side by side with his employees on a daily basis. Though other chefs may shun basic tasks as activities they did in a past life, Shea continues to embrace every job in the kitchen: he still mops floors, still seasons chicken and personally heads out to the markets to pick up ground provisions and vegetables.It may not have been a life-long dream to become a chef but this quiet guy has seemingly found his place in the culinary world.
From the simple joy of feeding family and friends to the immense pride that swells within when a satisfied guest compliments his food, Shea has developed an unmatched love and passion for cooking.
“Cooking has brought me out of my shell, I’m confident in what I do and I know this is what I’m meant to do” Shea shares. “I live my life by accomplishing and dreaming again, and ultimately I want to take my talent and do more than what is expected of me.
Share this post: