Meet Chef Michael Milstead Jr | Celebrity Traveling Chef

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chef Michael Milstead Jr and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chef Michael, what makes you happy? Why?
Cooking makes me happy. I enjoy seeing the smiles on my clients faces when the food is being prepared, i love the amazing conversation i bring along with it. Seems like ive always been alone growing up after my grandfather passed so made me realize, life can be fun.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Im a Celebrity Traveling Chef Ive been cooking for a little over 12 years. Ive recently became a celebrity chef 2 years ago.

Prior to starting in this line of work i was about 11 years of age and i remember that i wanted to be a Somebody. I wanted to fit in, i felt like i needed to be like others. It finally hit me! when my mother started to cook i was always there watching her and asking a million questions. the food was immaculate and the aroma was like heaven. After a few years passed by i felt like ive seen enough and wanted to pursue cooking. i was age 14 when i got my first job it was at jack in the box. i was so happy to be cooking even though it was all frozen. i was 16 when i first had my client, i advertised on social media, i cold called and most importantly i sold myself to clients just to get my name out there. i remembered i was so booked that i couldnt do it alone, i bought my first car and was living my dream.

6 months from being 17 at the time i was diagnosed with an overactive Thyroid condition. My mother didnt think anything was wrong with myself and i felt fine. One day at the gym me and my guys were playing basketball as we did everyday for 3 hours or so. i started feeling dizzy throwing up blood and started losing weight faster than what we projected it to be. 5 months down the road i lost a total of 130 pounds and was really on my death bed. At that time, my role model, my idol. my grandfather was fighting for his life. when i was hospitalized for a little over 2 months my mother lost her job, she was so upset and blamed me but out of anger she was worrying about how she was going to pay the bills. once my father passed away i was still hospitalized and then after my GreatGrandmother passed due to old age. I felt like i didnt have anyone anymore, i was in a dark space and wanted to leave to be with my grandfather.

Shortly after i was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and was fighting it for quite some time. i had a cardiac arrest and was sent to ou medical in oklahoma city where they kept me alive after i flat lined. That day it happened i remember i met god and my grandfather. I knew after that moment all my depression and dark days had finally come to an end for me. I came back stronger, happier, and thankful that im here for a purpose. 3 days later they put me through to kill my thyroid i then took 3,000 mil of radiation and now im 5 years in remission from graves disease thyroid cancer.

Current Day, Ive been to 46 states and counting cooking for my clients and also revamping restraunts. ive revamped 32 thus far and dont plan on stopping to help buisness owners. ive cooked for celebrity stars/ producers like Rob Stovall, Mr. Lucci, other rap artists and a handful of movie stars. ive also did celebrity brunchs for meals on wheels, made latino rising star magazine and recieved awards and more. ive been blessed and thankful for the love and support i have from my followers throughout this incredible journey.

My lesson ive learned thus far is your progress isnt supposed to be easy its supposed to be stressfull its supposed to be a burden to a certain degree to embrace being uncomfortable.

im most proud of being able to help others find their loss of direction.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
It all depends, my best friend lives near by but for friends visiting Id try to put myself in their shoes and maximize their experience. Start with big profile places and then add in some local hidden gems i know here and there.

Day 1 Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden
Day 2 Reunion Tower
Day 3 Art Tours
Day 4 Aquarium
Day 5 dallas bites and sights tour
day 6 relax/ dinner
day 7 farmers market/ dinner

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Behalf of myself i want to thank my grandma, Mother, aunts,uncles and family. I really would like to give my GrandFather every credit imaginable. His life ended fairly young but he always told me to be great and never look back at past mistakes. The boy who carried books by Author Alton Carter. This book from when it was released to current day has helped me overcome alot of obstacles in life. Being Alton is family, i looked up to him alot growing up, and alot of my teachers from Stillwater Public Schools and Tulsa Edison Prep.

Facebook: Michael Milstead Jr