We begin today our series Chefs on the Rise. A look at our wonderful cadre of rising culinary professionals:

Brian Lumley

Resident chef at the Embassy of France

At 24 years old, certified chef de cuisine Brian Lumley is already a force to be reckoned with in Jamaica’s culinary industry. Not only has he been the resident chef at the Embassy of France for over two years, but he also runs a catering business — Foodies Lyme — in collaboration with his sister Stephanie Lumley. He also won the award for the Most innovative use of Caribbean ingredients at the 2010 Taste of The Caribbean competition.

Additionally, Lumley, who was twice-nominated for the Jamaica Observer Food Awards Chef of the Year, will resume his studies at the Runaway Bay Heart Institute in September of this year where he will complete the HEART Trust NTA/Culinary Institute of America course to become a certified executive chef in two years.

Nicholas Beckford

Resident Chef to the Deputy US ambassador to Jamaica Isaiah Parnell.

It’s the eagerness in his eyes and that easy broad smile that gets our attention every time. A graduate of Tivoli Comprehensive High School, Nicholas Beckford has a passion for food and a quest for excellence. “I watch those who’ve excelled in the profession and match my game against theirs”. It’s no idle boast, for wherever two or three great chefs are gathered, in the midst is Nicholas Beckford. His primary focus this year is that of completing the joint HEART Trust NTA/Culinary Institute of America degree programme to add executive chef to his already impressive credentials from the Runaway Bay HEART Institute.

George Matthews

Resident chef — US Ambassador Pamela Bridgewater

Those in the food industry refer to this charming ever-so affable individual as ‘Big George’. Five minutes in his company, as the enfant terrible himself Marco Pierre White discovered on a recent trip to Kingston, leaves you not only wanting to know more about his easy charm but staying around that much longer. Matthews, who is currently chef-in-residence at the residence of US ambassador Pamela Bridgewater, was also responsible for former US ambassador Brenda La Grange Johnson. Like Nicholas Beckford, he too is on a quest to add executive chef to his credentials, and as such spends his weekends at the Runaway Bay Heart Institute completing the joint HEART/NTA/CIA degree programme.