Chef & Restaurateur; Culinary Innovator Behind Aba & Ēma; Winner of "Top Chef Duels"

Chicago, IL, USA
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CJ Jacobson Biography

CJ Jacobson is an American chef and restaurateur known for his "rustic-refined" cuisine and emphasis on hyper-seasonal, local ingredients and foraging. Jacobson attended Pepperdine University in Malibu on a volleyball scholarship and played for the U.S. National Volleyball Team before pursuing a professional volleyball career in Belgium, Israel, and the Netherlands. During his time abroad, he developed an interest in food and culinary arts.

After returning to Los Angeles, Jacobson completed a three-day immersion at Mélisse, a Michelin two-star restaurant in Santa Monica, which inspired him to pursue a culinary career. He enrolled at the Le Cordon Bleu-affiliated College of Culinary Arts in Pasadena and began his professional cooking career at Axe, a restaurant known for its ingredient-driven California menu.

Jacobson gained national recognition through multiple appearances on Bravo's culinary competition series, "Top Chef," serving as guest judge, sous chef, and guest in various episodes. He also competed on "Top Chef Duels," a spin-off series featuring contestants from "Top Chef" and "Top Chef Masters," where he won the competition and received $100,000 and an opportunity to appear in Food & Wine magazine.

Jacobson is the chef behind Aba, his second restaurant with Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, with locations in Chicago, Austin, and Miami. He also operates Ēma, the sister restaurant to Aba. Both restaurants are influenced by Mediterranean cuisine and incorporate a California approach to fresh, seasonal ingredients. The expansion of these restaurants to multiple cities reflects the broad appeal of Jacobson's culinary vision.

In addition to his work as a chef and restaurateur, Jacobson has participated in the James Beard Foundation's Celebrity Chef Tour. His career spans professional athletics, national television, and multi-city restaurant ownership, making him a recognized figure in the culinary industry and a voice on resilience and reinvention.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 09/29/2026.

CJ Jacobson Videos

CJ Jacobson of Ema | Bootstrapping in America

CJ Jacobson of Ema | Bootstrapping in America

C.J. Jacobson's Avocado and Sweet Pea Crudité - YouTube

C.J. Jacobson's Avocado and Sweet Pea Crudité - YouTube

  • How do I book CJ Jacobson to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like CJ Jacobson for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for CJ Jacobson, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for CJ Jacobson or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for CJ Jacobson

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  • What topics does CJ Jacobson speak about?

    CJ Jacobson is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Athlete, Celebrity Chef, Celebrity Chef, Health & Wellness, Hospitality, Olympic Athlete
  • Where does CJ Jacobson travel from?

    CJ Jacobson generally travels from Chicago, IL, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
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    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like CJ Jacobson for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book CJ Jacobson for your next private or corporate function.
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CJ Jacobson is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book CJ Jacobson for your event is available upon request. CJ Jacobson generally travels from Chicago, IL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Mark McEwan, Michel Nischan, Joe Bastianich, Andrew Zimmern and Bobby Flay. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling CJ Jacobson for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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