About Jay
Jay Ducote is a chef, traveler, speaker, storyteller, and TV host. Basically, he eats and drinks for a living.
He received his BA in economics and political science and MA in political science from LSU.
Jay is most widely known for finishing runner-up on Season 11 of the hit reality competition show Food Network Star. He also had a pilot for his own show, "Deep Fried America," air on the Travel Channel. Jay won an episode of Beat Bobby Flay after challenging the Iron Chef to a crawfish boil. He also won an episode of Food Network’s Superchef Grudge Match. He has also appeared on Chopped, Cutthroat Kitchen, Masterchef, and many more television and web shows.
Jay has twice been invited to cook at the historic James Beard House in New York. He has been a featured chef on ESPN’s College GameDay two times, the pinnacle of learning how to cook throwing tailgate parties for LSU Football. He continues to cook for events large and small, near and far.
Throughout Jay’s career he has led ventures in blogging, radio, television, digital media, barbecue sauces and seasonings, wine, coffee, tacos, catering, pop-up dinners, teaching, and much more.
Jay's first book, Jay Ducote’s Louisiana Outdoor Cooking, a cookbook chronicling Jay’s time growing up hunting, fishing, tailgating, and his professional culinary journey to that point, was published by the LSU Press.
Jay currently travels as much as he can to soak in the great cultures of the world and experience everything that life has to offer. He is serving on the Board of Directors for the Louisiana Travel Association and on the Dean’s Advisory Council for the LSU College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
