Dennis Chan is a celebrated chef and restaurateur based in Jacksonville, Florida, where he owns and operates Blue Bamboo, a restaurant he founded in 2005. Growing up in a family that owned twelve restaurants over eight decades, Dennis developed a deep passion for the culinary arts from an early age. He briefly considered law school before realizing his true calling was in the restaurant business.
Dennis attended the University of Florida and later refined his customer service expertise working for The Disney Company, where he served as a VIP tour guide and was part of the opening team for Disney’s Animal Kingdom. His experience at Disney fueled his interest in combining big business, entertainment, and exceptional guest experiences.
To hone his culinary skills, Dennis attended the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Hyde Park, New York, and later worked with renowned chef Ming Tsai at his PBS show, Simply Ming. He also gained valuable management experience at Brio Tuscan Grille in Winter Park, Florida.
In addition to running Blue Bamboo, Dennis is an adjunct professor at Florida State College at Jacksonville and teaches cooking classes at various venues, including Whole Foods and Publix Aprons. He is the author of two cookbooks: Hip Asian Comfort Food (2009) and Let’s Eat (2022). Dennis has received numerous accolades, including winning the 2018 Neighborhood to Nation recipe contest by General Mills and being named Florida Businessperson of the Year by the Small Business Administration in 2022.
An active philanthropist, Dennis supports several charitable organizations, including the American Cancer Society, March of Dimes, and Ronald McDonald House. He also serves on the Jacksonville Tourist Development Council and as president of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association’s Northeast Chapter.
Dennis resides in Jacksonville with his wife, Elizabeth, and their two sons, Bennett and Michael.