Chef Jack McDavid

Jack's Firehouse opened in 1989 in an 1860s building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Chef Jack McDavid was born and raised in Virginia, where his family farmed most of their food. He learned French cooking from Jean-Pierre Goyenvalle of the famed Lion d'Or in Washington D.C., and later moved to Philadelphia where he opened the Down Home Diner in 1987, in the farmers' market at Reading Terminal, and then Jack's Firehouse in 1989. He also started the Down Home Grill in 1993 and took the show on the road with a part-interest in the Reds Backwoods BBQ chain. Jack is the only Philadelphia Chef owning two restaurants, which have continually fed Philadelphians for more than 20 years. Jack is rarely found without his signature "Save the Farm" cap, even while cooking at Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation(r), Meals on Wheels(r), Taste of the NFL or Chef Aid events. He can be seen on the Food Network's Grillin' and Chillin'. He specializes in creating exciting, original dishes with the freshest homegrown, handpicked ingredients and is legendary for his "scratch" cooking.