Damon is a chef and restaurateur with more than 30 years of experience operating and building restaurants. He has cooked every cuisine - from farm-to-table to Mexican - at every level, from fine dining to fast casual. He has also dedicated the last decade to American barbecue. Throughout his career, Wise has earned high praise from numerous publications, including Food & Wine, The New York Times and New York Magazine, and takes pride in cooking with the seasons and sourcing quality ingredients.

After cooking at and running some of the most acclaimed establishments in the country, Damon owned the beloved barbecue spot and beer garden, Pineapple Express Barbecue, and the bright and inventive Mexican restaurant Oso Felipe in Montclair, NJ until 2026.