Chef James Akins | Architect of Opulent Taste

Chef James Akins has spent over two decades mastering the art of gastronomy at the highest levels — training under visionaries such as Michael Symon, Tom Colicchio, Morimoto, Alain Ducasse, and serving in the kitchens of Le Bernardin Prive, One If By Land, Two If By Sea, and the Ritz-Carlton’s 42nd floor restaurant. His career has been defined by transforming fine dining into unforgettable rituals — edible works of art designed to seduce the senses and nourish the soul.

In 2018, Chef James founded Black James & Sons, an upscale cannabis chocolate and edibles line, establishing himself as one of the first chefs to seamlessly merge cannabis, wellness, and haute cuisine. His creations — from truffle vaults of cacao to multi-course infused tasting menus — are designed for both indulgence and intention, bringing sophistication to cannabis dining on a global stage.

Beyond the table, Chef James has become a trusted chef for indigenous medicine retreats and wellness ceremonies, designing meals that harmonize with journeys into ayahuasca, psilocybin, and other sacred medicines. These menus are crafted to support mind, body, and spirit through every stage: preparation, immersion, and integration.

For private sector clients and billionaire households, Chef James offers a bespoke culinary experience that blends the intimacy of a personal chef with the innovation of a gastronomic pioneer. Whether orchestrating a multi-sensory dinner in Manhattan, curating nourishing weeklong retreat menus, or designing edible art for an elite family’s private gathering, his service is discreet, opulent, and entirely tailored.

To dine with Chef James is to enter a sanctuary of taste — where luxury, wellness, and ritual converge.