About Chef Cornel Robinson
Chef Cornel Robinson was born in the beautiful, culturally-rich island of Jamaica. He is the youngest child for his mom, and developed his early love for cooking while watching her.
About Us
Chef Cornel’s journey began in a warm, bustling kitchen in Jamaica. As a boy, he clung to his mother’s apron strings, hiding from the sizzle of hot oil and watching intently as she worked her magic. At six years old, he fried his first egg. By nine, he cooked a full meal for his family.
His mother, Mrs. Daisy Green, was his first role model. A professional cook and the senior kitchen staff at Cornel’s community school, she inspired a deep respect for food, family, and hard work.
After high school, Cornel planned to join the Jamaican Military. While preparing for that path, he worked as a security officer at the Wyndham Hotel in Kingston. In 1990, he became a father to his first daughter, Sasharee, and welcomed his second daughter, Rory, in 1995.
In 1996, he officially joined the Jamaican Military, where he served for 10 memorable years. That same year, he met his wife, Fiona. Together, they have three wonderful children: Cornel-Stjohn, Arryana, and Arriel.
In 2006, Chef Cornel moved to the United States to reunite with his family. A year later, he began working as a dietary clerk at Centerlight Health Systems, where his passion for food was reignited. With the guidance of mentor Cook Hawkins, he enrolled at Star Career Academy in NYC. He completed the Fine Dining program in 2012, along with an internship at Sony Music Entertainment.
Not stopping there, Cornel pursued a restaurant management course—and with that, Cornel’s Catering Co. was born.
His first major event? Catering for 320 guests at a church concert for First Church United Brethren in Christ. It was a success, and the business has grown steadily since. Chef Cornel stands by the belief that healthy dishes are delicious dishes.
Today, Cornel’s Catering Co. is proud to sponsor Cornel’s Scholarship Fund in Jamaica—a program dedicated to helping high school students in the Golden Spring area of St. Andrew obtain essential school supplies. It’s his way of giving back to the community that helped raise him.
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13
Our “Healthy Food is Delicious Food” Philosophy
Cornel’s Catering Co. is run by Chef Cornel Robinson, whose personal experience with a lifestyle change toward healthy eating has benefited him both physically and mentally. Our philosophy is that healthy dishes can be delicious dishes, so our food and menus are catered with both health and taste in mind.
We are 100% geared toward supporting the healthy lifestyle choices of our clients by preparing menus consisting of a variety of healthy foods appealing to all senses. We respect your values and taste, and aim for satisfaction guaranteed.
Food is an integral part of your event and we work to ensure that your event is a memorable (and healthy) success.