press · 01 / 02
whereischefjason.com · Jason@jointhecookingclub.com
where is chef jason?
press one-pager · updated 2026
◆ chef · founder · on the road
jason mckinney.
French Laundry alum. Truffle Shuffle founder. Shark Tank (S12).
Currently on a world tour before opening Restaurant Elizabeth — NYC, 2027.
jason.
◆ the bio · 120 words
Jason McKinney trained at Sea Island before five years at The French Laundry under Thomas Keller — commis to sous, with the Core Award in hand. He staged at Maison Pic (3★), Frenchie, and Gaggan.
In 2020 he co-founded Truffle Shuffle, a pandemic-born virtual cooking platform. Shark Tank S12 closed a deal with Mark Cuban in 2021; by 2022 the company was doing $13.3M annually. ButcherBox acquired it in 2023 — their first all-cash acquisition.
He is now on the Elizabeth World Tour — every stage documented from January through October 2026 — before opening Restaurant Elizabeth in NYC in 2027.
"The exit bought me freedom. This chapter is about focus."
— jason mckinney
◆ the numbers
5 yrs
french laundry
commis → sous
commis → sous
keller years
$501K
mark cuban · 18%
shark tank s12
shark tank s12
deal · 2021
$13.3M
truffle shuffle
annual sales
annual sales
at acquisition
2026
february → october
~20 career stars
~20 career stars
tour · in progress
◆ as seen in
ABC
NBC
Forbes
Eater
Haute Living
Tasting Table
Sonoma Magazine
◆ contact
press & media
Jason@jointhecookingclub.com
brand partnerships
Jason@jointhecookingclub.com
◆ the arc · 2013 → 2027
2013
joins The French Laundry as commis.
2016
five-year run at The French Laundry. receives Core Award.
2018
stages at Maison Pic (3★), Frenchie, Gaggan.
2020
co-founds Truffle Shuffle. first class from a garage.
2021
Shark Tank S12 — $501K deal with Mark Cuban.
2022
Truffle Shuffle hits $13.3M in annual sales.
2023
ButcherBox acquires Truffle Shuffle. all-cash.
2025
two-month culinary stage at Gaggan · bangkok.
2026
the Elizabeth World Tour · currently soutpansberg, south africa.
2027
Restaurant Elizabeth opens. 30 seats. NYC.