In the kitchen, and in print, with Bruce Springsteen's personal chef, the award-winning Andre Fowles
- Letters To You
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
April 10, 2026
Andre Fowles' current gig as the personal chef for Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa Springsteen is just the latest in his very impressive list of culinary achievements. Fowles also is a three-time championship winner of The Food Network's Chopped television competition, and continues serving as an international restaurant consultant for various establishments, including the upscale Miss Lily's, offering fine Jamaican food in its three locations: Jamaica, Dubai, and New York City, where Fowles formerly was its chef.
Fowles recently published his first cookbook, as well. My Jamaican Table: Vibrant Recipes from a Sun-Drenched Island features a foreword by Bruce Springsteen. In it, Springsteen writes, "I've been around plenty of talented people in my lifetime, but what sets Andre apart are his humility and his love for what he does. You'd never guess he's a three-time Chopped champion because he's so down-to-earth. Andre brings this same grounded spirit to all of his efforts..."
Indeed, while Fowles' first book provides many of his distinctive recipes, it also delivers many moving and inspiring insights derived from his humble beginnings growing up in a Kingston, Jamaica tenement yard. "My Jamaican Table," writes Fowles, "is a culinary journey through the heart and soul of Jamaica. It's a collection of the flavors and the memories that have shaped my life. It was inspired by my grandmother's kitchen, where the scents of garlic and ginger were infused with laughter, love, and more than a few hard times."
Earlier this week, Chef Fowles was kind enough to grant a brief interview to Letters To You. We especially appreciate his doing so at this time, given how extra-busy we presume he probably is these days. After all, as he recently revealed to Rolling Stone, Fowles often can be found accompanying Springsteen on tour as his personal chef, in addition to cooking for the Springsteens at home. We also are super-thrilled that in our brief chat, Chef Fowles still managed to share a few extra-tasty and exclusive tidbits with us. Read it all below...
LETTERS TO YOU: Chef Fowles, you're a highly respected, award-winning chef who has prepared meals for many famous people, presumably many of whom would be happy to write the foreword for your first cookbook. Could you please tell us some of the reasons why you selected Bruce Springsteen to write this special foreword?
CHEF FOWLES: I’ve had the privilege of cooking for Bruce and Patti for over five years now, so having his words open this book is incredibly special to me. He’s connected with my food and culture on a really intimate level. We’ve shared stories, meals, and moments that go way beyond the plate. It just reminded me that it doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from, food is the ultimate connector. So it felt like a no-brainer to have him write the foreword for my book. And it definitely didn’t hurt that he offered to do it.
LETTERS TO YOU: Are there any meals in My Jamaican Table that are particular favorites of Bruce's, Patti Scialfa's, and/or their family?
CHEF FOWLES: Curried lobster with coconut rice, and roti to dip into the sauce with some mango chutney and sweet plantains. It’s a lovely spread with both the spice from the curry and sweetness from the chutney and plantains. That is one dish I keep going back to that he really enjoys, and I’d say it’s his go-to. Both Bruce and Patti also really enjoy my grilled swordfish with mango salsa - a recipe found in My Jamaican Table.
LETTERS TO YOU: Are there any particular Springsteen and/or Scialfa records to which you like to listen while cooking and/or doing other things? If so, why are those records special to you?
CHEF FOWLES: “Because The Night” by Bruce Springsteen. Outside of his many hits, "Because the Night" is the song I keep going back to when I’m in the kitchen. It’s a great lover’s rock song that always gets my energy up.
LETTERS TO YOU: Finally, could you tell us a bit more about your work with The Rockhouse Foundation on Hurricane Melissa recovery efforts in Jamaica, how sales of My Jamaican Table have supported those efforts, why the efforts are personally important to you, and how folks can help?
CHEF FOWLES: The Rockhouse Foundation works to raise money to help build schools on the West Coast of Jamaica for special-needs kids. It’s a wonderful organization, and I kicked off my pre-order campaign of My Jamaican Table by donating a portion of each preorder through the end of 2025 to their Hurricane Melissa Relief Fund. [NOTE TO OUR READERS: Although pre-orders for My Jamaican Table have ended, you can click here to support directly The Rockhouse Foundation's Hurricane Melissa recovery efforts.]
