J
oshua Adam Garcia AKA-JAG was born in
JAG trained in mixed martial arts and freestyle grappling for over 10 years, practicing Okinawan Karate during the off seasons. He was captain of his High school wrestling team and played varsity football. At age 17, he joined the United States Marine Corp. to pursue his study of mixed martial arts, and fund his culinary training. While enlisted, JAG attended a local community college where he worked towards an associates in business administration.
After an honorable enlistment, JAG attended The New York
Restaurant School where he trained to become a chef. He studied abroad in
In 2007 Joshua gained notoriety as Chef JAG on season 3 of the Next Food Network Star. He
rose to victory only to withdraw after learning that facts surrounding the details of his military service had been misrepresented.
Now age 28, a veteran and accomplished Chef, JAG currently serves as Corporate Executive Chef for the Davanti restaurant group and is currently coordinating recipes and culinary instruction for a non-profit veteran wellness organization called Semper fidelis. He resides with his wife and daughter in Tampa Fl.; where he is a fan favorite at The Tampa bay wine and food festival, and frequent guest Chef on the “Daytime dishes” portion of Daytime T.V. When he isn’t on the road or in the studio, he enjoys traveling with his girls, writing music, and practicing mixed martial arts. His first book, “Hispano” is scheduled for release in the spring of 2011.