Lifestyle maven and chef to the stars, Amaris Jones, has spent much of her life honing the perfect iteration of a modern Soul Food concept. Thirty-something years later, she credits her father's church on Philly's famed ‘South Street’ and family gatherings as the birthplace for her love of this cuisine and industry. As the lifestyle manager to Sean “Diddy” Combs and super-producer Timbaland, Amaris was responsible for producing star-studded events, managing several luxury homes, coordinating high-profile dinner parties and music launches. Her unique skill set drove her to start her own management company in 2004 – Elite Home and Lifestyle Management – where she provided bespoke concierge, strategic partnership development, event production, brand placements, and domestic staffing for her clients.
In 2008, Amaris was selected as the first African American woman to be featured in Ocean Drive Magazine’s “Beach Patrol” column, where she was celebrated as one of the most connected people in the industry. Since then, Amaris’ work in both the culinary and lifestyle realms has been featured in several media outlets. A gifted dot connector, Amaris also holds the title of VIP Relations Advisor for media outlets such as Plum TV, Haute Living, Ocean Drive Magazine, Vault, and Miami Magazine.
In 2012, Chef Amaris launched her neo-soul food concept, South Street, located in the buzzy Miami Design District where she succeeded in transforming her own family recipes into a full-fledged menu. Amaris’ tried-and-true techniques for crispy fried chicken, mac & cheese, and sweet potato pie fused with her hospitality prowess kept celebrities, athletes, and local VIPs coming back for more. The concept was equal parts restaurant and live music venue, where Motown, blues, R&B, and jazz commingle with the food she grew up eating and cooking. In it’s time, South Street received rave reviews earning the likes of Martha Stewart, Lenny Kravitz, and Lebron James.
As a newcomer in the Miami culinary scene, Chef Amaris was asked to participate in the first Chicken Coupe event during the Food Network’s South Beach Food & Wine Festival in 2013. The following year, she collaborated with international shoe-giant, Reebok, to create healthy meal plans for Grammy-nominated rap artist, Rick Ross. Through Chef Amaris’ dedication and expertise, Ross was able to lose 80 pounds through guided workouts and healthy meals. In addition, Chef Amaris was selected as the first American chef to participate in the Food for Diplomacy program powered by the Hollings Center, in which she flew to Istanbul, Turkey to teach a class on the history of soul food and curate a dinner for global diplomats at Kadir Has University. In March 2016, she was selected by the BET Network to curate a series of dinners in collaboration with the prestigious St. Regis Resort Hotel for the Leading Women Defined Conference. You can still find Amaris hosting and curating pop-up dinners at high-profile, Miami venues including Soho Beach House, Cafe De Arts, and private estate mansions.
In July 2021, Chef Amaris Jones launched a modern soul food concept, Chick’n Jones at Time Out Market Miami. Boasting chef-driven fried chicken and healthier versions of traditional Southern favorites in fast-casual environs, Chick’n Jones seeks to feed the mind, body, and soul all from the same plate.