Born and raised in the Bronx, Chef Julien's love of cooking began at home—first out of necessity, then blossoming into a creative calling inspired by his grandmother's kitchen. His experience spans some of New York's most acclaimed restaurants, including The Clocktower (★), Llama Inn (James Beard Finalist), Llama San, and the Breslin. Now working as a freelance private chef, his cuisine is deeply personal and memory-driven—beginning not with ingredients, but with the people he's cooking for, their stories, and the flavors that shaped them.