Chef Venter grew up in a South African family, where he learned at an early age that quality food was an essential ingredient to good living.
As a child, CJ used to love watching his relatives prepare family meals with love and care, turning simple ingredients into culinary masterpieces.
His parents are avid travelers and instilled in CJ the importance of experiencing the many diverse cuisines from around the globe. The kitchen at the Venter house was always an interesting one.
In 1991 CJ decided to follow his passion and moved his studies from architecture and set off on a culinary journey that eventually took him all over the globe. He visited local street markets and earned international food traditions from cooks in Africa, Asia, the Americas and Europe to mention a few. After visiting these different continents, their great kitchens and chefs, researching and tasting their street food, CJ loved coming back to his own kitchen to perfect the skills he had learned.
Some of this greatest memories are around spending time with local families that taught him the 24 to 36-hour processes of making marinades, and how to create sauces (mole) that will change your palette and mind-set about food forever.
CJ spent time in Ohio in several kitchens perfecting his craft, then moved his experience back to South Africa where he originally got his training, and began his own restaurant that quickly caught the attention of the locals and received praise nationwide for his creations and interpretation.
CJ resides in Bella Vista where he also manages the Concordia Independent Living kitchen that shares his philosophy and passion for a healthier lifestyle. He believes in preparing fresh, nutritious meals for his customers and helping them maintain a healthy lifestyle. His goal is to assist them in making the right food choices and realizing that eating healthy does not mean you have to sacrifice flavor or variety. If you would like to experience the tastes of Chef Venter, call Linda or Ellie for a tour and complimentary lunch at 479-855-3714. We are so excited to have someone with his vision and background to make our dining experience the best in Northwest Arkansas.
Community on 08/26/2015