Breaking Bread Catering
About
The “Visionary of the Table”
Chef Chuck | Founder & Executive Chef, Breaking Bread Catering-Est.2019
For Chef Chuck, the journey to becoming a premier private chef didn’t start with a textbook—it started on the vibrant streets of Washington, D.C. Long before he held a professional title, Chuck was the engine behind local gatherings, orchestrating menus and cooking for events of every size. In those early days, he didn’t even realize he was “catering”; he was simply a young man with a preternatural gift for feeding his community.
His first official test came with a high-stakes challenge: an Easter breakfast for 100 guests. Armed with nothing but passion and raw talent, Chuck took on the job with his 12-year-old godson, Jeremy Ford, by his side. Together, the two of them prepared the entire meal themselves—a foreshadowing of the culinary heights they would both eventually reach. While Jeremy Ford has since become a household name and a Food Network star, those early mornings in the kitchen with Chuck were where the foundation of their shared craft was laid.
While his formal education later took him to Sullivan University, Chuck found his true North in the heat of a professional kitchen. He credits his time working under Chef Nicola Palmieri as his most defining era—an experience he found far more inspiring and transformative than any classroom. Under Palmieri’s mentorship, Chuck moved beyond basic technique and learned the true soul of the craft: the discipline, the respect for the ingredient, and the artistry required to command a kitchen.
Today, as the owner of Breaking Bread Catering, Chef Chuck blends that gritty, D.C.-born hustle with the refined mentorship of his past. Whether he is serving as a private chef for an intimate residence or managing a large-scale boutique event, his philosophy remains rooted in that first Easter morning: food is the ultimate connector, and every meal is an opportunity to break bread and build community.