Chef Kelston Moore

Week of November 28, 2026

Chef Kelston Moore is one of the most compelling culinary figures working in America today, a Barbados-born, U.S. Navy-trained, Food Network-featured chef whose cuisine is as much autobiography as it is artistry. Known for cooking with intention, soul, and precision, Chef Kelston transforms every dining experience into a narrative rooted in Caribbean heritage and refined California technique, now serving an exclusive private clientele of C-suite executives aboard luxury yachts and at private estates.

Moore’s culinary foundation was forged in his childhood and 10 years of active duty service in the United States Navy, where he cooked for more than 6,000 service members daily aboard an aircraft carrier, building the discipline, leadership, and efficiency that define his craft today. Following his service, he pursued formal culinary training and went on to serve as Sous Chef at The St. Regis Deer Valley Resort before making history as Chef de Cuisine at Fox Point Farms, San Diego County’s first agrihood farm-to-table restaurant, a role that established him as a celebrated voice in Southern California’s culinary scene.

In 2023, Chef Kelston appeared on Food Network’s Chopped (episode: “Too Yacht to Handle”) and was named Runner-Up Best Chef by San Diego Magazine. He opened 2026 headlining the Guest Chef Dinner Series at Mawa’s Kitchen in Aspen, Colorado, a Michelin Guide Recommended restaurant, presenting a curated four-course Barbadian menu featuring his signature smoked jerk snapper and braised curry goat pavé alongside James Beard–recognized culinary talent. Now based in Memphis, Tennessee, Chef Kelston operates exclusively in the private sector, delivering bespoke culinary experiences for Fortune 500 CEOs, corporate executives, and elite clientele on luxury yachts and private estates across the country. Drawing on a career built across aircraft carriers, five-star resorts, and celebrated farm-totable kitchens, he brings world-class refinement to the most intimate and exclusive dining settings.

Off the plate, Chef Kelston is co-founder of Bad Boyz of Culinary, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that empowered African American culinary professionals through mentorship, scholarships, and community events in San Diego, including the first all-Black culinary competition in the city’s history. His leadership was nationally recognized by Men’s Health Magazine as a vocal advocate for veterans navigating mental health challenges. Moore channels his own journey through PTSD and depression into a platform of purpose and service that continues to grow nationally.