top of page
IMG_9184-X5.jpg

Jacob Portman

Chef

Jacob Portman (he/him) joined Northwestern Hillel in Summer 2024 in the new role of Northwestern Hillel Chef.

 

Jacob is originally from Columbus, Ohio and lived in Israel for four years where he served in the Israel Defense Forces. It was while living in Israel where Jacob first grew to love and appreciate the diversity of Jewish foods. After finishing his service Jacob returned to Columbus where he completed his BA from The Ohio State University. Jacob began cooking professionally in 2019 and since then he has cooked and baked at restaurants and bakeries all over Chicago. The throughline of Jacob’s culinary career is his passion for Jewish cuisine and he enjoys sharing that passion through teaching cooking classes and crafting menus highlighting Jewish dishes and cuisines from around the world.

 

When not in the kitchen at Northwestern Hillel Jacob can most likely be found in his kitchen at home, but when he is not there he enjoys reading, hanging out by the lake with his wife Natalie, and playing with their rescue dog Nisa.

bottom of page