Amaris Jones
Culinary trailblazer and entrepreneur Amaris Jones has passionately reimagined contemporary Soul Food, drawing inspiration from her early years in her father’s church on Philadelphia’s famed South Street and cherished family gatherings. These experiences have fueled her to create unique soul food dishes that have captivated everyone from celebrities to everyday diners.
In 2012, Amaris made waves with the opening of South Street restaurant in the famed Design District neighborhood in Miami, garnering praise from high-profile figures like Martha Stewart and LeBron James. By 2013, her talents took center stage at the Chicken Coupe event during the SOBE Food and Wine Festival, a prestigious event sponsored by Food Network.
2014 saw her collaborating with Reebok to design a health-focused meal plan for hip-hop sensation Rick Ross, leading to his impressive 80-pound weight reduction. Internationally, Amaris left her mark as the premier American chef for the Food for Diplomacy initiative by the Hollings Center. This venture took her to Istanbul, Turkey, where she shared the soul food narrative and curated a special meal for international diplomats at Kadir Has University.
Amaris showcased her culinary expertise on the Oprah Winfrey Network’s ‘Food Fantasies’ in 2020. In the subsequent year, she introduced Chick N Jones, a modern fast-casual fried chicken outlet, which was lauded as ‘Best Fried Chicken’ by the Miami New Times. and best pop up by Legacy Magazine .
By 2022, she held the title of ‘Chef at Large’ at the renowned Red Rooster Overtown, under the guidance of Marcus Samuelsson.
In 2023, a collaboration with Pillsbury led Amaris to craft two distinctive edible bouquets for Mother’s Day, blending Pillsbury’s staples in a culinary masterpiece. Her contributions to the Perez Art Museum gala, particularly as the highlighted chef for the African American Fund for the Art for three years in a row, epitomize her commitment to culinary brilliance and cultural roots.
Nestled in the South Beach Food Hall at 1601 Drexel Ave, Chick N Jones offers a variety of organic fried chicken dishes, enticing chicken sandwiches, salads, and more. Notably, their signature sweet potato biscuits remain a beloved item from Chef Jones’s debut restaurant.
