From “What If?” to What’s Next: Jordan Jones’s Culinary Journey

Jordan Jones’s journey to NOCHI started with a simple conversation over dinner… and a dream that refused to fade.

Born and raised in New Orleans, Jordan grew up in a family where great food was a way of life. He proudly says his father is the best cook he’s ever known, while his mother also attended culinary school, making a career in the kitchen feel both familiar and inspiring. As a kid, he spent hours watching cooking shows like Guy’s Grocery Games and Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, while admiring the passion and precision of Chef Gordon Ramsay. Even while working in fast food, Jordan knew he wanted to build a future in the culinary industry.

That dream became more tangible during a family dinner at Copeland’s just before he graduated high school.

“My dad asked me what I wanted to do,” Jordan recalls. “I told him I wanted to cook. He said he knew about this school, and we should look into it.”

Although financial challenges delayed his start, the availability of WIOA funding made it possible for Jordan to enroll in NOCHI’s Culinary Arts program. What started as a “what if” quickly became the beginning of a life-changing experience.

One of Jordan’s favorite parts of the program was his externship, which gave him the opportunity to work in professional kitchens he had always dreamed of experiencing.

“Getting to learn and cook in new places was incredible,” he says.

Like many aspiring chefs, Jordan discovered that mastering the culinary arts requires patience. Timing and consistency proved to be some of his greatest challenges.

“When someone shows you how to do something, you want to do it perfectly,” he says. “I would beat myself up because I couldn’t.”

Balancing those expectations with a demanding work schedule made the experience even more challenging. While attending classes, Jordan was also working at Morrow’s, often juggling long days between work and school.

Despite the demanding schedule, Jordan found something he never expected: a second family.

“The fact that these strangers I met six months ago became some of the closest people to me,” he says. “I see them every single day, and they push me to be a better person. I changed so much in these six months.”

Those friendships, along with the support of his instructors, helped him grow not only as a cook but as a person. The experience also gave him the confidence to think bigger about his future.

After graduating from the Culinary Arts program in Spring ‘26, Jordan isn’t finished learning. He will return to NOCHI in Fall ‘26 to complete the Baking & Pastry Arts program, expanding his skills even further.

Looking ahead, Jordan hopes to work in kitchens across the country, gaining experience in different culinary environments. One of his biggest goals is to join a culinary program at Disney, where he can continue learning while cooking for guests from around the world.

“I wouldn’t have been able to do that without coming here,” he says. “NOCHI helped me be more creative.”

From a conversation over dinner to graduating with a clear vision for his future, Jordan’s story is a reminder that sometimes all it takes is one person who believes in your dream and the determination to keep chasing it. With a Culinary Arts certificate in hand and Baking & Pastry Arts on the horizon, Jordan is just getting started.