The author of The New York Times bestselling Cooked, award-winning chef, soon-to-be star of his own reality/cooking show on the Food Network delivers his first cookbook. Will Smith will play him in the film of his life story.

Jeff Henderson's story is familiar: raised in south central Los Angeles, he became a successful drug dealer. He made a lot of money. He got caught. But what happened next isn't the same old story: during his ten-year term in Federal prison, Jeff learned to cook. Once released, he talked his way into a series of professional kitchens as a dishwasher and worked his way up. His talent was obvious and he became the first African-American chef de cuisine in Las Vegas (Caesar's Palace) and then, executive chef at Café Bellagio.

In his first cookbook, Henderson shows the world his food and it is delicious. What inspires him? His childhood (fried chicken, biscuits, cornbread, and waffles) is here as well as the more elegant, celebratory food (caramelized wings, roasted sweet potato soup) that he has developed as a gourmet chef. Featuring 150 recipes, stunning full-color photographs, tips and techniques, as well as personal anecdotes from his life on the streets, in the prison kitchen, as a chef and currently as a motivational speaker, this is much more than a cook--it is a larger-than-life American success story.