As a culinary innovator within the category of “Underground Restaurants” and a noted African-American chef in California cuisine, Owner/Chef Russell Jackson is the Owner and Chef of Harlem’s fine dining restaurant, Reverence. Following graduation from the California Culinary Academy, Russell opened his first restaurant in LA, Russell's, and went on to work as a private chef for countless A-list celebrities. In 1999, Jackson moved to San Francisco to head James Beard nominated Black Cat restaurant. During the next years, Jackson would achieve notoriety and amass a cult following through his seminal restaurant creation, SubCulture Dining, a radical underground supper-club. SubCulture Dining, known by devotees as SCD, broke culinary boundaries and earned Jackson his reputation as the Dissident Chef. Emerging from the underground scene, Jackson would go on to open SF sparkler, Lafitte on Pier 5. Throughout his career, Jackson has appeared on TV shows including SF Chefs, Iron Chef America battling Chef Jose Garces, and again in the Food Network Kitchens, competing for the coveted title of Food Network Star, and starring in Off the Menu, the first original Award Winning Digital for NBC/Universal on BravoTV. In 2014, Jackson moved to New York City, and in the summer of 2019, opened the doors to his most personal project, and his first NYC restaurant, Reverence. Set in the historical Harlem neighborhood, the intimate spot serves a five-course tasting menu inspired by Jackson’s West Coast roots. Jackson continues to shoot for multiple Network projects and serves on the Board of Directors at WHEDco.org, Aspen Institutes Food and Society- Safety First Board of Directors, Leadership Member of the Independent Restaurant Coalition. Board Member for One Fair Wage.