Josh Capon

Josh Capon (born 1972)^[1] is an American chef and television personality.

Josh Capon attended the University of Maryland where he discovered his talent in cooking for his friends, which he funded by accepting small donations.^[1] Subsequently, this led to Capon transferring to Johnson and Wales University, the only culinary school offering a bachelor's degree at the time, as it became clear that his interests were cooking, rather than choosing a major.

After dropping out of chef school, Capon accepted an offer from Charlie Palmer to help open The Lenox Room.^[2]

He subsequently went on to work for David Burke at the Park Avenue Café and was offered an exchange opportunity to work in Europe, where he studied cooking in seven different restaurants in France, Italy, Germany, and Spain.^[1]

Capon returned to Manhattan in 1997 and was hired as a sous-chef at The St. Regis Hotel's Astor Court. He then became the executive chef at Alva, owned by Palmer. He left the restaurant in 1999 to work for a more upscale restaurant, Matthew's, owned by Matthew Kenney. He was chosen by Kenney to work for his SoHo restaurant, Canteen, until it closed in 2004.^[1]

Capon then became the executive chef at New York City's Lure Fishbar.^[3]

Capon has been a guest judge on the Food Network competitive shows Chopped, Beat Bobby Flay, and Best Bite in Town. He is also a recurring cast member on the Paramount Network reality television series Bar Rescue and has made appearances on Good Morning America,^[4] the Tamron Hall Show,^[5] and the Today Show.^[6]

Working with Mercer Street Hospitality Group, Capon opened multiple NYC and Miami-based restaurants, including El Toro Blanco,^[7] Bowery Meat Company,^[8] and Burger & Barrel Winepub.^[9]

In 2021, he co-founded the modern hospitality group VCR with Conor Hanlon, David Rodolitz, and Gary Vaynerchuk. In 2022, VCR announced the launch of Flyfish Club, the first private dining club where membership is acquired through a blockchain-based NFT.^[10]

At the 2023 US Open, Capon participated in the "Flavors of the Open" event, where he served lobster rolls, oysters, and other signature dishes.^[11]

Capon expanded his restaurant ventures with the addition of Capon's Burgers, located in the Fontainebleau on the Las Vegas Strip.^[12] Additionally, he opened the Modern American restaurant Little Maven in Flatiron, NYC.^[13]

• Chopped (TV series)
• Matthew Kenney
• Gary Vaynerchuk