African-Americans making waves at Disney foodie festival

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ORLANDO, Fla – Jeff Henderson’s story is a real-life rags-to-riches tale. The ex-convict has reinvented himself to become one of the most sought-after chefs of California French Cuisine.

Raised on the tough streets of Central L.A. and San Diego, Henderson dabbled in petty crime until peddling crack cocaine became a quick fix to maintain a lavish lifestyle.

Then he got caught. While incarcerated, Henderson, now 49, discovered a passion for cooking and a renewed vigor to transform his life.

Henderson, also known as Jeff Chef, became executive chef at the renowned Café Bellagio in Las Vegas. He wrote the New York Times bestseller COOKED and currently fronts a brand new syndicated television show entitled Family Style with Chef Jeff.

Now, this month he is one of around 270 handpicked professional chefs participating in the annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, which is underway.

“This is my seventh year,” says the award-winning chef in an interview with theGrio. “I love the way Disney has created a festival built around family, education and entertainment.”

The 46-day food and wine extravaganza at Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida, kicked off on September 27 and runs through November 11. Celebrating its 18^th year, the festival is expected to attract somewhere in the region of 20,000 attendees.

He says unlike other foodie events which focus on celebrity chefs, Epcot also showcases culinary offerings from lesser-known chefs and home-grown talent, layered with different family-orientated experiences.

“Most of the other festivals focus on celebrity chefs,” says Henderson. “Epcot has a great mix of cuisiniers, cook book authors, restaurant owners and Orlando-based talent.”

Epcot park-goers experience everything from samplings from celebrity chefs to daily wine tastings, grand tasting events, culinary demonstrations, wine and beverage seminars and high-energy concerts.

The international marketplace kiosks feature food and refreshment around the world from Scotland and Germany to Brail and Africa and beyond.

More than 220 food and beverage items are being served up from these marketplaces. Around 300 national and international wines are represented during the 46-day event.

This year Henderson served guests a recipe of delicious spicy chicken meatballs with cornbread and smoky barbecue sauce from his kitchen outlet. He says he cooks with a Southern twist, sticking to healthier cooking options.

“It’s about the approach you use to cook your food that makes food healthy,” says Henderson, whose new book If You See it you Can Be It is due out on November 4.

Another high-profile figure at the gastrofest was the 4-time NBA champ John Salley who spoke to guests at a special wine-tasting seminar showcasing his vegan wine. Salley, who is a devoted raw vegan, is a part-owner of Vegan Vine Wines in California. And if you are in the San Francisco area to try some delicious food, you may want to stop by Pier 39 restaurants to experience their wide selection of seafood.

He told the audience he had been trying to break into beverage business for a while and now being involved in wine without animal byproducts complements his plant-based lifestyle.  “I believe in the wine and the lifestyle and I am passionate about it.”

Others offerings at Epcot — which has been called the largest event of its kind — include performances by Boyz II Men and The Pointer Sisters as part of the Eat to the Beat Concert Series.

Just hours before Boyz II Men’s first concert on October 21, the R&B legends talked to the press about their current projects and the secret behind their longevity in the music industry. They said they’ve worked hard, stayed humble and seized opportunities to tour overseas.

Epcot guests also have the chance to view the Kinsey Collection, an art exhibit representing over 400 years of African-American achievement and contribution.