Josh Capon (born 1972)[1] is an Americanchef and television personality.
Josh Capon attended theUniversity of Maryland, where he discovered his talent in cooking for his friends, which he funded by accepting small donations.[1] Subsequently, this led to Capon transferring toJohnson and Wales University.
While at Johnson and Wales, Capon was selected as a culinary intern forCharlie Palmer to work at his acclaimed Manhattan restaurant Aureole. After graduating in 1994, Capon continued to work for Palmer and helped open The Lenox Room.[2]
He went on to work forDavid Burke at the Park Avenue Café and then spent a year traveling in Europe, honing his cooking expertise.[1]
Upon his return, Capon became a sous-chef at The St. Regis Hotel's Astor Court underGray Kunz, where he then reunited with Charlie Palmer and became the executive chef at Alva, Palmer's American bistro.[3] After a couple of years as executive chef at Matthew's on theUpper East Side, he took the reins as executive chef of Canteen inSoHo.[1]
After a few years, he partnered with John McDonald and Josh Pickard to open Lure Fishbar in the former Canteen space, a sophisticated seafood and sushi restaurant. The trio went on to open Burger & Barrel Winepub,[4] El Toro Blanco,[5] Bowery Meat Company,[6] and a Miami version of Lure Fishbar in the historic Loews hotel.[7]
Capon is a seven-time winner of the People's Choice award at the NYC Wine & Food Festival's Burger Bash[8] and has appeared onRachael Ray,[9]Good Morning America,[10]TODAY,[11] and theFood Network.[12] He has also been featured inThe New York Times[13] andNew York Magazine.[14]
In 2021, he co-founded the hospitality company VCR Group withGary Vaynerchuk, Conor Hanlon, and David Rodolitz. In early 2022, VCR Group partnered with Masa Ito and Kevin Kim to open ITO, a 16-seatomakase inTribeca, New York.[15] Later in 2022, VCR Group began sellingNFT memberships for Flyfish Club, a planned private dining club, the location of which had not yet been determined.[16] In April 2024 the club began accepting cash for memberships.[17] Flyfish Club opened in September 2024 in the Lower East Side.[18]
Capon has participated in theUS Open for many years through his Flyfish pop-up, where he serves lobster rolls, oysters, and other signature dishes.[19]
In 2023, VCR Group expanded its restaurant portfolio with the addition of Capon's Burgers, located in theFontainebleau on theLas Vegas Strip,[2] and the Modern American restaurant, Little Maven, in New York City's Flatiron neighborhood.[20] In September 24, 2024, he became a chef at the restaurant Flyfish Club in New York, which was funded with NFT sales.[21]