Article written by What’s Up? Media
Chef Jim Holderbaum is the genius behind Range & Reef. During Chef Holderbaum’s travels as an international development advisor to over 60 countries, he had the privilege of sharing meals with people from all over the globe. From villages to farms, families invited him into their homes and gave him a taste of their unique cooking rituals. While the method varied from place to place, he discovered that cooking over an open flame was a thread connecting humans all over the planet. Chef Holderbaum fell in love with the experience of food: the preparation, the presentation, the conversation. As Chef Jim likes to say, “whether in Azerbaijan, India, Lebanon, or Ukraine, food brings people together’.
Because of the hospitality shown to him during that time, and the amazing meals he enjoyed as a guest in far-off places, Chef Holderbaum has now dedicated himself to sharing those food adventures at home in the DMV region.
Chef Jim Holderbaum has been live-fire grilling for over 25 years and his passion in sharing this time-honored tradition with his clients and their guests. Through his personal chef catering company, Range & Reef, he uses professional stainless-steel wood fired grills manufactured by Grillworks™, allowing him to cook onsite using hand-split oak along with peach, cherry and apple wood sourced from local orchards. Each wood fire infuses its own unique, smoky flavor into premium meats, fish, and vegetables, creating amazing flavors and textures through the simplicity of live-fire grilling. Chef Holderbaum welcomes guests to gather around the grills and experience the unique sight, sounds and aromas as he creates a “culinary symphony” between fire and food.
You will not find re-heated food served in warming trays at his events. Instead, Chef Holderbaum creates an extraordinary culinary experience at every event that delights guests and leaves an enduring memory. He prides himself on being present and the one manning the grill at every event he books; his personality and tales of international travel are part of the package (be sure to ask him about Azerbaijan and North Korea!).
While live fire grilling is a mainstay for Range & Reef, Chef Jim has also brought his passion for creating food experiences to the preparation of seafood boils and traditional lobster clam bakes. Extra-large wild-caught Gulf shrimp and 1 and half-pound Maine lobsters are the stars of these seafood events and it’s not unusual for him to combine these seafood experiences with his live fire grilling for corporate and private clients.