It all began for Jerome Brown at Gardner's BBQ in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. As a teenager, he spent endless hours absorbing the wisdom shared by his mentors at this popular neighborhood restaurant. Jerome was a quick study in the kitchen and his confidence and skill set grew rapidly. He was a natural. Jerome had the ability to master any dish with the greatest of ease. All it took was a single lesson or a mere taste of a dish and he could recreate it to perfection. Those around him knew that Jerome had a special gift. After all, he dazzled his family with his very first creation at the tender age of seven - pancakes.

It was the lessons learned at Gardner's BBQ and those taught by his mother and other elders in his family that would prepare Jerome for a heralded career in the culinary arts as Chef Rome -"Personal Chef to the Stars." After high school, Chef Rome enlisted in the United States Army where he proudly served his country and fellow soldiers in the kitchen. He traveled around the world perfecting his skills and expanding his repertoire to include international cuisine. After military service, Chef Rome returned to Rocky Mount. He began work at the upscale Benvenue Country Club and trained under renowned Executive Chef Larry Kennedy. He soon learned of a single culinary opening at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, and decided to take a chance. The odds were four hundred to one, but Chef Rome was neither intimidated nor deterred. And it was with that attitude that he shattered the odds by beating out the other three hundred ninety-nine applicants to win the position.

For more than twenty years, Chef Rome has been working to master his craft. But along this journey, he has always maintained a sincere desire to help educate and empower young professionals in the field. In 2000, he created Chef to the Stars, a chef placement service that has successfully placed more than seventy-five top chefs in celebrity homes. His command of the culinary arts extends far beyond the magic he creates in the kitchen. In 2001, he was commissioned by former NBA star Isaac Austin to consult on the opening of his restaurant. Chef Rome single handedly created the menu, designed the floor plan and synthesized the operation, management and overall flow of the kitchen. So, it was no surprise when his services became in high demand.