Meet Chef Corey Hall | Celebrity Chef and Culinary Cannabis Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chef Corey Hall and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chef Corey, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
Originally from Massachusetts, settled in Florida.

Raised by my Father, a veteran with a great work ethic, strength, and toughness that keeps him alive at 90 today. However, my father, to be kind, has the communication skills of a bull in a china shop, just hardened from multiple tours in the military, and would pass down that hardness, all the same. He taught me that it was HIS way, no other, you will ignore the pain, you have no feelings and tough is the only way to be.

Unfortunately, my mother and I had a strained relationship due to her substance issues and we never got the time I feel we deserved. Sadly, only later would I understand she was masking her pain in substance, the exact same road I would take. There was also my older brother in the family, who was and remains my idol, he raised me while raising himself too. Later traumatic family events lead to my father and brother’s absence for an extended time period and ultimately the death of my mother to her addiction, leaving me to myself, young, inexperienced, and vulnerable to the world and to my demons.

I was always into athletics, both my brother and I played sports through college, I was a part of some great sports moments in my life. Fitness is truly a passion of mine, it keeps my mind focused also I have learned. Back then though, my mind was not busy enough to escape the mental health demons that would manifest throughout college, my military career, as well, in my married life. I struggled with severe depression, leading to being over-prescribed medications and then turning to substances over a 17 year period straining every relationship I value in my life.

After years of struggling, back and forth in my recovery, straining relationships, and coming near death multiple times, what finally stopped and broke my cycle was my friend said to me “ if I did not want another man to raise my son, I was going to have to decide”. That hit me like a left hook from Tyson ..there was only one decision, down in my foundation instilled by my father, FIGHT FOR ME AND FIGHT FOR MY SON…

I would eventually be formally diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which was a start to help me recognize the WHY for my feelings. So, now to get the WHAT? and HOW? This would be another struggle, how to overcome the demon who is always right behind you, mental illness, the demon no one could see and medication only made worse. I was out of control, but no matter how out of control I was always cooking, food was my only way to cope. I got into foods from all over the world, it was the one thing that I always had, the one thing that I could do for everyone that was my thing to make people happy. This is when I knew it was going to be my “THING”, I just never imagined how and where it has led me to now.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Currently, after making some hard decisions, taking it day by day, focusing on my fitness both mental and physical along with my cooking craft, I am proud to say that I have been in recovery and sober for over 6 years. I was able to use my story to write my book called “I FOUND ME” about my mental health journey and a story of redemption. I want to inspiration to the hopeless, I was that hopeless. I have a healthy relationship with my son, who is very smart and growing strong. I also take care of my elderly father at 90.

One of my favorite accomplishments of mine is that I was able to turn my cooking into my “thing”, a real TRUCHEF… I am self-taught, working off of hard work, everyday grinding, and the desire to inspire my son that mental illness is not the end. I have also made the choice to never turn back and crush my demons every day. My culinary artistry business, ECH, named for my son, along with the cannabis line TRUFUSION 999, has taken me to 8 countries, as well as cooking in front of celebrities and professional athletes. I tell my story to inspire and spark that conversation of hope to those who never knew it was okay to feel. I want my legacy to show others that it does not work when you love what you do…..

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Miami, love the 305….after a good fight event we rest relax and eat at the Famous Mutiny on the Bay in Coconut Grove, and our spot at Table14 in the Grove….Understanding time to hang out is limited with caring for my father, I make event work fun for all at the same time…its not work when you love what you do!!!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shout out to my son, Eli – my reason to do what I do, my father who still got it at 90, my brother for the support , my amazing Trufusion999 team and of course my clients, those that allow me the opportunity to do what I love …

Website: trufusion999.com

Instagram: @truchefofficialpage @trufusion999 @echculinaryartistry

Youtube: @coreyhall

Other: https://www.amazon.com/I-Found-Me-Corey-Hall/dp/1945812559 https://www.cuisinenoirmag.com/chef-corey-hall/