Join us for a warm and inviting evening of laughter, community, and exceptional cuisine as we bring together Martha’s Vineyard’s finest chefs for a live cooking demonstration and tasting experience.
Hosted by Celebrity Chef Jon Ashton, this special event features Executive Chef Juan Martinez of the Harbor View Hotel, Chef Carlos Montoya of Maker Café, and Dan Martino of Cottage City Oysters.
Get to know these talented Island chefs, learn exclusive recipes, and experience the flavors that make Martha’s Vineyard’s culinary scene so special.
Chef Jon Ashton
Chef Jon Ashton’s love for cooking began at age eight, learning timeless recipes and kitchen wisdom at his grandmother’s side in Liverpool, England. By sixteen, he knew his future lay in the culinary arts. After graduating from a French-inspired culinary school, Jon embarked on a global journey that shaped his unique culinary perspective. From the vibrant markets of Southeast Asia to the rich traditions of European kitchens, Jon immersed himself in diverse flavors and techniques, infusing his cooking with a truly international flair.
Guided by the belief that “cooking has the power to inspire anyone,” Jon is passionate about sharing the beauty and accessibility of food with audiences around the world. His culinary approach celebrates bold, global flavors, with a particular love for the aromatic and layered cuisines of Southeast Asia. For Jon, cooking is more than a skill; it’s a universal language of connection, resilience, and joy.
After moving to the United States to pursue his dreams, Jon built a celebrated career that reflects his commitment to spreading love, kindness, gratitude, and laughter through food. As a devoted husband, proud father to Victoria Mei, and Labradoodle Daddy to Eleanor Rigby, Jon cherishes food’s power to bring people together and enrich life’s most meaningful moments.
Jon’s talents have made him a trusted partner to some of America’s most iconic brands, including Disney Cruise Line, Walt Disney World, Waring, Parade.com, GEICO, Cuisinart, Four Seasons, Crystal Cruises, Quaker/Tropicana, Eggland’s Best, Brown-Forman, NFL, NASCAR, and Condé Nast. As the founder of Jon Ashton Productions, Jon combines his culinary expertise with storytelling to create compelling brand narratives that connect global audiences through food and travel.
Available for dynamic live events, brand activations, private gatherings, and speaking engagements, Jon Ashton continues to inspire home cooks everywhere to embrace the joy of cooking and discover the world on their plates.
Chef Juan Martinez
Meet Chef Juan Martinez, the executive chef at Harbor View Hotel. Chef Juan is a dedicated professional who has devoted his entire career to the restaurant industry. His journey began when he was just 15 years old, working as a dishwasher in a small restaurant in East Lansing, Michigan, where his older brother was a cook. While his first job may not have been glamorous, he quickly became captivated by the buzz and energy of the kitchen, the excitement of delivering exceptional food promptly, and the instant gratification of happy customers.
After graduating with honors from The Culinary Institute of America in New York, Chef Martinez honed his skills at The Greenbrier Resort as a culinary apprentice. He then went on to work at other prestigious 5-star, 5-diamond resorts such as The Four Seasons in Boston and The Little Nell in Aspen, CO. It was at The Little Nell where he developed a passion for farm-to-table cooking by sourcing ingredients from their own organic farm.
Chef Martinez is classically trained in French cooking and has experience in various culinary styles. He has spent several years cooking Contemporary American cuisine. When asked about what attracted him to Martha’s Vineyard, he cited the opportunity to work with a team that prioritizes providing guests with a superior experience and an atmosphere of excellence. He also loves the peaceful beauty of the island and the availability of local suppliers.
The restaurants at Harbor View Hotel, include Bettini Restaurant, Behind the View, and Roxy Pool Bar, all offering three distinct menus from upscale to casual, contemporary American cuisine. We are thrilled to have Chef Martinez on board, and we are confident that guests will return time and time again to relish each fresh, delectable dish.
Chef Carlos Montoya
Chef Carlos Montoya is a Colombian-born, Queens-raised chef with over 20 years of experience cooking across New York, Boston, and Martha’s Vineyard. Now based on the Vineyard, he is the co-founder and executive chef behind Maker Café, a Martha’s Vineyard–based restaurant, private chef and catering company. His résumé includes Sweet Life, Détente, Edgartown Yacht Club, and Garde East, and he has cooked for Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. Carlos describes his approach as “inspirational cooking”—driven by seasonality, local ingredients, and a deep foundation in classic French technique blended with modern, global influences.
Dan Martino
Dan Martino was a TV producer for a decade when he stumbled upon oyster farming while filming a show. The opportunities within the oyster farming industry were so apparent that Dan promptly changed careers and started his own farm, Cottage City Oysters, off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard with his brother Greg. With over a decade of farming under his belt, Dan and the Cottage City Oyster Farm have become international leaders within the 3D regenerative farming industry.