From Behind-The-Scenes To Starring Behind the Grill: The Journey of Chef Vino
For every rising artist making a name for themselves in their city, there’s a crucial support system comprised of behind-the-scenes individuals making sacrifices for the artists they believe in. These contributors invest their passion, creativity, and actual capital to support rising talents, often without recognition. The search for the next big artist can be exhilarating, but it's a path best suited for the entrepreneurial, the multifaceted, and the music enthusiasts —definitely not for the faint of heart.
For Von Harris, also known as Chef Vino, his journey in the music industry began with promoting clubs and bars. The side hustle would eventually lead him to be an active participant in the remarkable rise of Chicago's hip-hop scene in the 2010s and took an unexpected turn into the culinary world as an on-demand chef in the 2020s.
Before working with artists like 8MatikLogan, Qari, Lotto, and Smino, Von's entry into the game was facilitated by a friend who was part of a management team connected to Kid Cudi and Chip the Ripper's camp. This experience exposed him to organizing shows and parties, equipping him with the skills to put on his own events and discover his first-ever artist, Thello Jay. It was with him that Von learned the ropes of supporting emerging talent, securing sponsorships for debut mixtapes, and pushing them to local blogs.
Von's unwavering commitment to the local music scene led him to establish his own blog and become an integral part of the burgeoning local blog ecosystem. This ecosystem, which included platforms like Ruby Hornet, Fake Shore Drive, Go ILL, and GoWhereHipHop, was essential for building connections and supporting underserved artists he believed in.
Gaining recognition in the music industry, especially in a city with not much infrastructure like Chicago, involved a steep learning curve, but Von kept organizing shows, securing blog placements, and advocating for local talent.
“Back then it was like super hard to get on Ruby Hornet. It was super hard to get on Fake Shore Drive.” Von shared with These Days. “So, everybody was kinda like, ‘damn, how you doing that? How you connecting to them?’ Through that outlet, I kind of learned how to blog and from there [I] started supporting the ones that weren't getting any support. And I think the people that weren't getting support were the ones that started helping me build my network and get my name out there because we were all trying to find our place in the industry.”
It was his hustle and networking that eventually landed him a position handling operational duties (and at time A&Ring) at the now-legendary Classick Studios, where he got to work sessions with artists like Smino, Monte Booker, Pierre Bourne, and Alessia Cara. It also set the stage for his foray into another passion—cooking.
"Chris, [Classick, owner of Classick Studios], and I would always be constantly brainstorming ideas. I think we were in LA for [Smino’s] Z4L video shoot—check that out if you haven't. That's when my first time acting came into play, and I made dinner for the entire crew, including Guapdad, Buddy, Bari, Jay2, and a bunch of other people who were there, because we had a lock-in in L.A.. We had a lot of people there, including Groove, Teej, Monte Booker, prodxvzn, lonestarmusik, and the whole gang. I prepared dinner, and everyone enjoyed the food."
His culinary success quickly evolved into serving lunch on Fridays for studio clients and subsequently expanded into "Fat Plate Fridays," a public culinary offering.
The pandemic served as another turning point for Von. Faced with the studio's closure and artists’ needs put on pause, he leaned on his cooking to recharge, stay busy, and supplement his income. His Instagram food offerings (through @fatplatefridays) quickly gained popularity. "Every week, I'm selling out and I'm preparing hundreds of wings every week," he recalls. "It might not seem like a lot, but for one person cooking out of their kitchen, it's quite a bit."
A feature by Matt Harvey in TheTRiiBE elevated Von's profile even further, shifting him from the background into a more public role as an exciting new chef. With the world reopening, doors swung open for greater prospects, such as catering events for Modern Notoriety with Adidas, Derrick Rose (serving a variation of his favorite dish: grilled cheese), and putting together a four-course meal for a Lululemon event attended.
His cooking venture also provided him with opportunities to reconnect with the music industry, forging connections at events and helping people bridge gaps in their careers. As a result, he returned to artist management through his company, Rooted Sound, where he currently works with an impressive roster of artists, such as AmbiLyrics, Bari, Prince Coop, and prodxvzn, while also supporting acts like DaylightTone and Lil Blessin (who just put out a record with Travis Scott, G Herbo & Bia).
In a testament to his entrepreneurial spirit, Chef Vino will be expanding his culinary endeavors by releasing his own dry rub through his newly launched spice company, Pudgie's Cabinet.
Von's journey has been a continual process of learning and growth, but he has reached a point in his career where experience and skill triumph over any obstacle. He may not hold degrees in either of his career paths, but as he aptly puts it, "When it comes down to it, I do be chefin'." This holds true for both his culinary and music ventures.