Jerome Grant

Hungry Cat Cooperative

Jerome Grant is the executive chef of Sweet Home Cafe inside the historic National Museum of African American History and Culture. 

Grant's culinary interest piqued at a very young age, learning the basics of Filipino cuisine from his mother. After graduating from high school, Grant attended the Pennsylvania Culinary Institute. 

Upon receiving his degree in 2002, Grant moved to Saint Croix. Shortly thereafter, he was named the Best New Chef in Saint Croix in 2004. In 2005, Grant opened The Mix Lounge in Saint Croix as part owner and executive chef. 

Grant returned to the United States and accepted a role as executive sous chef to open Urbana Restaurant in the Hotel Palomar in Washington, D.C. In 2008, Grant joined the Mitsitam Cafe team as sous chef, where he played a critical role in receiving the 2012 RAMMY for Best Casual Restaurant.

In 2014, Grant was tapped as the executive chef of Mitsitam Cafe and after two successful years, was enlisted to serve as the inaugural executive chef of the Sweet Home Café in 2016.  

Under Grant’s tenure, Sweet Home Café received a James Beard nomination in 2016 for Best New Restaurant. Grant also received a James Beard nomination for 2019 Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic. Grant was a 2018 StarChefs Rising Star: D.C.-Chesapeake award recipient. Grant is also featured as one of Washington Life Magazine’s 2019 Young & the Guest List: 40 Under 40 for his work at Sweet Home Café and the community.

Grant and his recipes have been featured in The Washington Post, Time Magazine, The New York Times, Washingtonian Magazine, Bon Appetit Magazine, National Geographic, and Travel and Leisure Magazine among other notable publications. He has also appeared on ABC’s The Chew, The Food Network’s Guy’s Grocery Games, and NBC’s The Today Show, as well as international television and radio shows.