EXECUTIVE CHEF | jean paul “jp” medina

Jean Paul Medina, known to locals as “JP,” was born in Colombia to a lineage of chefs and bakers. JP’s family transplanted from Bogota to Queens, NY, where his culinary journey was born. Medina’s childhood was spent alongside his mother in the kitchen, a revolving door of family members seeking the comforts and pleasures of home cooking.

Medina climbed the ranks through the BLT group where he honed classic French techniques as rotisseur and poissonnier. He subsequently joined the ranks of L’apicio, Hill Country Barbecue Market, and Washington Market Tavern. In short, he worked in many of the best NYC kitchens, igniting his passion for cooking. It was at the latter where he met Chef Aksel Theilkuhl, and the two found kinship in their aspirations to abandon a corporate culinary structure to seek a connection to the local landscape and community of the farmland looming across the Catskill mountains.

Chef JP joined Theilkuhl as the opening Chef de Cuisine of The DeBruce in 2018 before transitioning to becoming Executive Chef at the North Branch Inn. He started to attract and keep fans dedicated to his style of cooking while finding his forever home with his wife and two dogs. He continued to build his reputation throughout the area with additional ventures. In January 2024, Chef Medina rejoins to helm our national and global award-winning culinary program as Executive Chef.