By Lindsay Papciak
Community Writer
For executive chef Joseff VanHorn, he believes “when God gives you a talent, you should embrace it.” Recently, VanHorn opened a permanent home for YoChef’s Catering based out of Kentwood.
“[Becoming a chef] is not what I wanted to do. I wanted to be an attorney or a doctor, but it wasn’t my calling,” VanHorn said. “When I accepted it, doors opened and I’m like ‘okay God, I get it.'”
VanHorn involvement with fine dining began when he was 16. He learned the ropes for the front of the house, but his passion was behind the scenes, even if it meant shucking oysters and cleaning mussels.
With 20 years of experience as a general manager and 15 years as an executive chef, VanHorn thought “I could do this myself.” YoChef’s Catering was established in October 2009. “I didn’t have a pot to cook in but I had a lot of good friends in the ACF (American Culinary Federation),” VanHorn said. ” In February of last year, we had to find our own place, and that was a challenge.”
After more than eight years of borrowing time in four different kitchens, VanHorn and his team officially cut the ribbon for YoChef’s permanent home in February 2018. “I tried to escape [food] a couple of times and sold life insurance. I was young and almost starved to death,” VanHorn said. “I went back to food because you always know where your lunch is at.”
VanHorn considers his influence to come from old school chefs as well as his time in the Marine Corps from 1986-1990. “I was just a sponge when I was young and I learned from all the chefs just by watching and doing and mentoring,” VanHorn said. “I give them both props for what we do now and our standards of service and how we do our events.”
VanHorn also has had the opportunity to grow with the film industry in Grand Rapids by providing craft services for more than 14 productions. “[Catering for] the movies was a launching point for us,” VanHorn said.
Out of all the celebrity encounters he has experienced, the most notable was Bruce Willis.
“I thought he was going to complain,” VanHorn said.
“He said ‘did you cook my salmon?’
And I said ‘yes Mr. Willis’
‘That was the best Salmon I ever had’
I’m like ‘oh cool.’ and I said ‘thanks Mr. Willis’ and he said ‘call me Bruce’ and I said ‘okay Mr. Willis’ That was the only time I was really star struck.”
VanHorn makes each client feel like a star by running his business as a ‘boutique caterer’. “We only want at the most to do two weddings at a time. I want to put the personal touch in everything we do,” VanHorn said. “Our secret ingredient is love. We love what we do and it shows in our customer service and in the quality of our food. I have a freezer that’s unplugged. I don’t do frozen.”
After establishing YoChef’s catering, VanHorn knows that he does not want to stop there. “I’m not the kind of person that will plateau,” VanHorn said. “We know catering works for us, and next we want to try a cafe. We have a great concept and a great menu. I’m just waiting. And when it happens it’ll happen. We never say no to opportunity.”
If you would like to learn more about YoChef’s Catering, visit their website at yochefscatering.com, or contact Joseff VanHorn directly at 616-558-1077.
All photos are by Tom De Vette, community contributor.
