Chef Jesse Frederick is a lecturing instructor in Culinary Arts at CIA’s New York campus, where he draws upon his more than two decades of professional experience in fine dining and restaurant leadership to inspire the next generation of culinary professionals. A Certified Higher Education Professional (CHEP), Frederick teaches Back of House Restaurant Operations at The Bocuse Restaurant, CIA’s award-winning, student-run French fine-dining establishment.
A native of Poughkeepsie, NY, and a 1999 CIA graduate, Frederick has spent much of his career in the Hudson Valley, developing a deep connection to the region’s farms, seasons, and community. He grew up in his family’s fourth-generation restaurant, Guidetti’s, in Wingdale, NY, where his father served as chef. Inspired early by his family’s culinary traditions, he began working in the kitchen at a young age then pursued his formal education at CIA. His externship took him to Olive’s in Boston under celebrated chef Todd English ’82, where he continued to work after graduation before returning to the Hudson Valley.
Over the years, Frederick has held several culinary positions across the region, including at Gigi Trattoria in Rhinebeck; Cucina in Woodstock, where he partnered with chef Gianni Scappin to launch the restaurant; and Bread Alone, where he managed savory production and café menus. He later served as executive chef at the Beekman Arms in Rhinebeck before being appointed executive chef at Butterfield at Hasbrouck House in Stone Ridge, one of upstate New York’s most acclaimed farm-to-table restaurants.
He returned to his alma mater in 2023 as faculty, bringing his passion for regional cuisine, sustainability, and hands-on mentorship to the classroom. Known for his seasonal approach and commitment to locally sourced ingredients, Frederick’s cooking and teachings lean on the rhythms of the Hudson Valley region as he instills in students the same respect for craft, ingredients, and community that have shaped his own career.
When he’s not in the kitchen or classroom, he enjoys cheering on his children at youth sports events—from ice hockey and lacrosse to gymnastics—and driving and maintaining his classic sports car.