Chef Jon ‘JD’ Davis, raised in Memphis, TN by his loving grandmother, Marene, developed an admiration for food at an early age. Home-cooked pinto beans and cast-iron cornbread became satisfying after-school snacks, ultimately shaping his understanding that the best dishes are simple, comforting, and, of course, delicious.

It wasn’t until he attended the University of Mississippi that he began cooking professionally for Chef John Currence, owner and founder of the City Grocery Restaurant Group, at the casual dining restaurant, Bouré, in Oxford, MS.

Through his Memphis roots and under Currence’s leadership, JD recognized his passion for the culinary arts, venturing off to Cape Cod, MA and Jackson, MS before returning to Oxford and serving in the kitchens of The Graduate, The Blind Pig, and Saint Leo, landing at City Grocery, where he now claims the esteemed title of Chef de Cuisine.

JD proudly represents City Grocery in the South, winning Judge’s Choice at Natchez Food & Wine 2024, and more recently, “bringing home the crown” for the King of Mississippi Seafood Cook Off 2025.

When he is not in the kitchen, writing a menu, or conversing around the City Grocery dining room, he and his wife, Kate, enjoy each other’s company and taking their dog, Polly, on long walks.