Justin "Raif" Raiford

Executive Chef

With his eclectic style and culinary artistry, twenty-six year-old Justin "Raif" Raiford has been turning heads at Austin's 34th Street Café for going on five years. With its strong tradition of cutting-edge cuisine and innovative food fusions, 34th Street embraces Raif's spirited energy and comprehensive background in international cooking.

Raif's passion for cooking began in Louisiana, where he shared the kitchen with his Cajun grandparents. "Even before I can remember I was trying to make something," he says. His path became clear as he quickly turned hobby into profession. After dabbling in catering, Raif took on a full time job at Shyler's, a locally owned restaurant in Evansville, Indiana. In less than a year's time he was promoted from dishwasher to Assistant Manager.

Raif's food and cultural interests heightened as his family moved from the Middle East to Asia to various cities within the United States. Throughout his adventures in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Israel, and Thailand, Raif continued to adopt cooking skills and craft new recipes. He took formal cooking classes, most notably at the Raffles Hotel in the heart of Singapore. "These opportunities were very special," he says. "I was always aware that I had to drench myself in the experience."

Eager to advance his career, Raif took an internship at the Trail West Resort in Buena Vista, Colorado. Under the mentorship of head chef Brian Romano, Raif learned to combine his global cooking talents and restaurant management skills. Adding education to his already impressive professional background, Raif pursued an Associates degree in Culinary Arts at the Texas Culinary Academy in Austin. After a stint at the Hyatt Tamaya Resort and Spa in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Raif returned to the Texas capital and took a chef's position at 34th Street Café.

Now at 34th Street Café, Raif is fully enjoying total stylistic freedom over his imaginative menu. Although Raif draws many ideas from his colorful nomadic past, he uses local seasonal favorites as much as possible. "Always use the freshest ingredients," he says. "Nothing compares to what your own community grows." Sounds like Raif, rising star and world-traveling chef, has finally found himself a home on 34th Street in Austin, Texas.

Read Our Bios:
Owner - Eddie Bernal
Executive Chef - Justin (Raif) Raiford