Jelani Port has had a unique culinary career, from being a private chef for Arizona Cardinals legend Larry Fitzgerald to running his own business creating meals for athletes and business executives.
While attending Metro Tech High School in Phoenix, Port became involved with the Culinary Careers Program (C-CAP), which offers high school students opportunities to learn culinary and job skills, work with chef mentors and compete to win scholarships.
“I’ve always had an interest in food and how it connects people,” said Port. “When I think about food, I think about my family being together around a home-cooked meal. C-CAP turned my passion for food into a career path.”
Through C-CAP, Port participated in competitions, volunteered at events and worked with chefs from upscale resorts and restaurants. “I attended every event I could, and my interest grew from exposure to experiences that I didn’t have growing up, and the camaraderie and sense of family I saw in the culinary community,” he said.
Port won a C-CAP scholarship and studied culinary arts at Scottsdale Community College. “It was very different from high school,” he said. “I learned about kitchen fundamentals, how to cook different types of food and how food connects people across cultures.”
After working at the Radisson Hotel in Phoenix and Arizona Broadway Theater in Peoria, Port scored the position as private chef for Fitzgerald through his C-CAP connections, including one of his mentors, celebrity chef Beau MacMillan.
“Working for Larry was an experience like no other,” said Port. “Coming from the west side of Phoenix, as a young African American, it inspired me to see his work ethic and his example of excellence. He is a friend and mentor.”
After being Fitzgerald’s private chef and traveling with him for a few years, Port wanted to spend more time in Phoenix with his family. He worked at Dominick’s Steakhouse in Scottsdale and then for the Arizona C-CAP chapter, visiting high schools and talking to students about the program. “Working for C-CAP took me back to my roots,” said Port. “I wanted to provide opportunities for kids like Chef Beau did for me.”
During the pandemic, Port built his own company called Chef Xport, which provides tailored meals and personal chef services for professional athletes and other health-conscious clients, as well as corporate events. In addition to Fitzgerald, Port has worked with NFL star Odell Beckham Jr. and Brittney Griner from the WNBA, among many others.
“I love working in restaurants because of the teamwork, but as a private chef I get the opportunity to cook in someone’s home and build rapport, relationships and trust, which I pride myself on,” said Port. “The dream of becoming a chef and having my own business started with C-CAP. Networking and the relationships I’ve built through C-CAP have played an important role in my career.”
Port continues to give back through involvement with C-CAP. He has two C-CAP apprentices working at Chef Xport. “In my C-CAP experience, you get out of it what you put into it,” he said. “If you stay connected it will be fruitful throughout your career in this incredible industry.”
For more information visit culinarycareers.org.
