New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
Meet Jose Rego, 45-year-old Chef and Restaurant Owner. Jose grew up in a Portuguese family where cooking was central to their lifestyle. Their Sundays consisted of large feasts, where Joe learned so much about cooking.
As Joe got older and eventually graduated from high school, he became a pipefitter in Newport. Due to the nature of the job, he would get laid off every summer, which led him and a friend to move to North Carolina to help build a golf course. During that time as roommates his friend would clean and Joe would cook. Blown away by his talent, he encouraged him to go to school for culinary, and went as far as getting him an application to Johnson and Wales.
This was only the start to Jose’s cooking career, as he finished school and went on to work in various restaurants across the country. During sometime in Atlanta, he heard about an open casting for the Food Network television-show Chopped, which he entered and was selected. He performed so well on the show that he finished in first. He also went on to compete in another of the network’s show Cutthroat, which he also won and even competed in a Battle of the Champions special.
With all this experience, he returned home to create his own culinary dream. Alongside Mario Ribeiro, of The Pasta House, they have teamed up to open the Cask & Pig. Their hope is to bring a gastro pub to North Dartmouth, which is teeming with corporate-owned restaurants, and give their patrons a place where there is quality service, food, and drinks.
Jose’s biggest philosophy isn’t about receiving though, as he tries to spend as much time helping others as possible. He has, throughout the years, offered his chef services up for non-profit organizations to raffle off at banquet silent auctions, which has helped him raise over $65,000 for causes such as NOAH’s Foundation, Prince Henry Society, St. Francis School, St. Anthony Church Choir, and so many more.
“It’s not all about receiving, it’s about giving back.”
Faces of New Bedford is a project by Colton Simmons. If you are interested in booking a shoot or getting prints from the series email all inquiries to colton@coltonsimmons.com
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Joe’s a friend of my cousin and from what I understand a real stand up guy! Congratulations on your success and Good luck to all your future endeavors!
congrats jose. good luck to you!!!!!!!!! hpe everything works well. god bless you!!