Visiting Chef Series

Rob Wood

WHEN DID SERVING OTHERS, THROUGH FOOD, BECOME MEANINGFUL? 
While stationed in Japan, I would often invite my Marines to my house, where I would cook them dinner and give them a chance to escape the barracks for a few hours. “Home-cooked Wednesdays” became a tradition and something we all looked forward to when possible. Being able to provide a meal, a taste of home, and a place for the Marines to go will always be a highlight of my life. Those evenings taught me the joy of hospitality and gave me an indescribable sense of pride in serving the food I had prepared.

WHAT MAKES YOUR CAREER SO MEANINGFUL? 
I've been with JBJ Soul Kitchen for eight years. In 2025, we served over 23,000 meals, with 74% of them going to customers who identify as food insecure. We also opened a pop-up location in an area facing a growing unhoused population, where we served an additional 17,000 meals, 89% of which went to food-insecure guests. 
In June 2026, the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation and JBJ Soul Kitchen traveled to Chicago to receive the James Beard Foundation Impact Award in recognition of our work serving the community.