California Walnuts - www.walnuts.org

Chef Profiles

Jim Perko

With 20 years of Healthcare experience, Chef Jim Perko CEC, ACC has a passion for creating the most delectable taste experiences for any conceivable diet, from vegan to a zero-fat, plant based diet. For the past eleven and a half years, Chef Perko has been the Administrative Executive Chef for the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute. He is an American Culinary Federation Certified Judge and the author of recipes in three of the Dr. Roizen and Dr. OZ YOU books, the Cleveland Indians Progressive Field and other GO Foods recipe initiatives. He is a recipient of numerous national, regional and local awards.As a member of the 1992 Culinary Team USA, Chef Perko received 7 gold medals from four countries. He also received American Culinary Federation, Cleveland Chapter 1992 Chef of Year and 2002 Educator of the Year awards. In 2006, Chef Perko achieved the ACF-CCF True Spirit Award and in 2008 earned the Junior League of Cleveland Presidents Award. He has been married to his wife, Debbie, for 31 years and is the father of two wonderful children, Katie and Jim, Jr.