About
Origin Story
The Grand Cook started in 2011 as a rowdy weekly dinner party among friends in Chef Jake Missen’s home town of Iowa City. These parties were an opportunity to try new food, rant about art, and play games while we waited for the food to be ready. It was inevitably served after midnight, hours late, to a ravenous group more full of beer than sense. In 2024, The Grand Cook reemerged as a full scale catering and event company in NYC, still keeping that love of a great evening where time seems to stop and adding a high level of refinement and grace (and much improved timing.)
Chef Jake Missen
Cooking professionally found me early and has been constant source of passion and motivation. I worked my way through every good restaurant I could find. That journey took me through acclaimed kitchens under James Beard nominated chefs and eventually to a role as the executive sous chef for Dan Barber at Blue Hill. I am committed fully to cooking locally and sustainably while also focusing on the finer points of cuisine and service. You can find me at the market most mornings, getting a jump on the best products the region has to offer.