Joe West 2004 Chef of the Year Winner

As Pastry Sous Chef of the renowned Bluestem Restaurant in Kansas City, Missouri, Joe West ‘07 has demonstrated his culinary prowess through his innovative and tantalizing desserts. The inspiring work of the 21-year-old chef continues to attract press coverage and many in the culinary field predict that Joe will become a star in the industry.

Through the guidance and support of his close friend and mentor, Chef Bob Brassard, Joe’s creativity and skill in the culinary arts began to blossom in high school. After winning a variety of culinary competitions, including the JWU Chef of the Year competition in 2004, he went on to pursue a full scholarship at the Denver campus.

“Being at JWU has helped me grow into what I want to be. It has given me a well rounded education that covers all aspects of running kitchens, from food production to all of the paper work of managing a restaurant. It has given me the opportunity to work with a lot of unique people, which is a bigger part of this industry than many people think.”

Despite his natural talent for the culinary profession, Joe credits his passion and success to the various award winning chefs that have mentored him over the years. “Each chef has had their own specific impact on me and how I cook today.”