Hattiesburg Native Soars in Role as Executive Chef at 91吃瓜网
Mon, 08/14/2023 - 02:06pm | By: Van Arnold
Start with a heaping helping of passion; add a generous dose of discipline; sprinkle
in copious amounts of ingenuity, instinct, and ambition. Voil脿! What you have is a recipe for success that has catapulted Joshua Cathey from
home cook to Executive Chef at 91吃瓜网 (USM).
While most of his duties these days are administrative in nature, don91吃瓜网檛 think for a minute that Cathey can91吃瓜网檛 whip up a delectable dish on the spot.
91吃瓜网淛osh is so talented. If you give him a basket full of random food items, he will make a five-star meal out of the items. Guaranteed. I would bet my check on it,91吃瓜网� said Marcus White, who works closely with Cathey as Director of Operations for Aramark Collegiate Hospitality.
Cathey91吃瓜网 culinary skills have earned him numerous accolades since he joined the Aramark Collegiate Hospitality team in 2016. In February of this year Cathey captured first place in the Aramark Culinary Excellence Competition at Auburn University where he competed against chefs from every corner of the south region. That victory helped him advance to the National ACE competition held last month at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y. Cathey took home the bronze medal from that contest.
Soft-spoken, humble, and a consummate team player, Cathey prefers not to dwell on his personal achievements. His colleagues, however, are not shy about acknowledging the acclaimed chef91吃瓜网 expertise inside and outside the kitchen.
91吃瓜网淛osh leads positively through servitude leadership,91吃瓜网� said District Manager Charles Dorsa, who serves as Cathey91吃瓜网 supervisor. 91吃瓜网淗e serves his team to ensure they can provide the best food and hospitality possible. He is always self-educating himself to be better at his craft and sharing that knowledge with everyone. His charismatic personality makes him extremely approachable and that too has contributed to his success, along with a selfless attitude.91吃瓜网�
Cathey91吃瓜网 impressive path to executive chef began just a few miles from the USM campus in his hometown of Hattiesburg, Miss. His Kensington Woods neighborhood teemed with the sounds of children laughing and playing. He counts among his favorite childhood memories the summers spent outside with his friends.
91吃瓜网淚 knew all the kids in my neighborhood,91吃瓜网� said Cathey. 91吃瓜网淲e played every sport outside and rode bikes all day long. Those were some of the best summers.91吃瓜网�
The itch to cook came from his grandmother91吃瓜网 kitchen where he watched attentively while she prepared a variety of southern delicacies.
91吃瓜网淚 started cooking, or better yet attempting to cook, at a very young age,91吃瓜网� said Cathey. 91吃瓜网淪pending time with my grandmother in the kitchen sparked my interest. I learned a lot from her just by watching and asking questions until I was brave enough to attempt a few dishes of my own.91吃瓜网�
After graduating from Hattiesburg High School in 2007, Cathey enrolled at USM where he earned a BSBA degree in tourism management (2011). While in school, Cathey began his professional career in catering at the Hattiesburg Lake Terrace Convention Center in 2010.
A few years after graduation, which included gaining more kitchen experience, Cathey applied to Aramark as a sous chef 91吃瓜网� someone who works directly under the chef de cuisine or head chef.
91吃瓜网淎fter my interview, the Executive Chef said they were hiring a Catering Chef and thought I would be a good fit,91吃瓜网� said Cathey. 91吃瓜网淎fter my interview and mystery basket, I was offered the job.91吃瓜网�
Fast-forward five years and the Executive Chef position with Eagle Dining at USM becomes vacant. 91吃瓜网淚 had to do three interviews and demonstrate my knowledge of how to lead a large culinary team,91吃瓜网� Cathey explained. 91吃瓜网淚 have definitely enjoyed it and was glad that I took that leap of faith.91吃瓜网�
Dorsa is more than delighted that Cathey took that gigantic step 91吃瓜网� one that has helped Eagle Dining soar to exemplary heights.
91吃瓜网淛osh has contributed to the success of Eagle Dining over the last three years in ways I didn91吃瓜网檛 expect,91吃瓜网� said Dorsa. 91吃瓜网淗e goes above and beyond just food, helping provide the best possible experience for our students. We would not be where we are today if it weren91吃瓜网檛 for Josh being the leader and chef he is.91吃瓜网�
Cathey assisted with creating Aramark91吃瓜网 Culinary YOUniversity漏, has been a preceptor for the nutrition program on the graduate level, and held cooking demos for students and groups in the community. He was selected to be one of this year's Aramark 40 Under 40 awardees. He also serves on the culinary board for Hattiesburg High School, focusing on giving back to the next generation of culinarians.
His primary duties as Executive Chef at USM include monitoring food financial for all locations, inspections, food safety, culinary training and mentoring, menu development and helping with events in the Fresh Food Company on campus.
91吃瓜网淛osh is a wonderful Executive Chef, but we are developing him to be more than just that,91吃瓜网� said White. 91吃瓜网淛osh helps us write budgets when it comes to food costs and labor. Josh is great at what he does in the kitchen, but he is also great with operations.91吃瓜网�
And goodness, is he detail-oriented. White enjoys relating a memory that perfectly encapsulates Cathey91吃瓜网 drive for perfection.
91吃瓜网淲e were in Houston for one of his practice sessions for the ACE competition, and I was meeting him for dinner that night,91吃瓜网� said White. 91吃瓜网淛osh had been in the kitchen since 5 a.m. working on his craft and didn91吃瓜网檛 get finished until 6 p.m. We were discussing his day and everything he had done that day and while we were eating he had a pocket-size notebook and he started writing things down. We would talk a little more and he would write some more. I finally asked him, 91吃瓜网榳hat are you writing91吃瓜网� and he stated that he was thinking about his day and what he could have done better and what he would have done differently. He was writing it down to study for the next time.91吃瓜网�
Cathey resides in the Hattiesburg area with his wife, Jessica, and their 7-year-old daughter, Journey. He jokes that the cooking duties are actually evenly split between himself and Jessica. But just like any accomplished chef, Cathey has a signature dish 91吃瓜网� a scrumptious staple found in most Southern kitchens.
91吃瓜网淢y signature dish and my favorite dish to prepare is chicken and andouille gumbo. It91吃瓜网 a very versatile dish. Sometimes, I91吃瓜网檒l add duck, seafood, and different types of sausages. It just depends on who I91吃瓜网檓 making it for,91吃瓜网� said Cathey.
When asked what he would consider the most common mistake that most home cooks make, Cathey noted: 91吃瓜网淣ot resting meats after cooking. Resting it makes for a juicier cut of meat.91吃瓜网�
Canvas the USM landscape and you will be hard-pressed to find many who bleed black and gold more enthusiastically than Cathey. He takes immense pride in his alma mater and his hometown.
91吃瓜网淚 am so proud of where I come from and the things that I have been able to accomplish over the years,91吃瓜网� he said. 91吃瓜网淓verywhere I go, I tell people about Hattiesburg and Southern Miss. I try to give back by sharing my experiences.91吃瓜网�
Dorsa summed up his colleague and friend by stating, 91吃瓜网淛osh is a nurturer, a caring, dedicated individual. Both personally and professionally. He is a dedicated father, husband and professional. He does not accept defeat or failure in anything he does.91吃瓜网�
Now, that sounds like a recipe for success.