About the Chef in Black

When it comes to “aha!” moments, Dorene Humason knows one thing very well: 

A great idea rarely comes to life without focus, passion and a great deal of determination.

Dorene, otherwise known as The Chef in Black, got hers during the end of a grueling 14-hour day in retail food sales.  “I realized how much I wanted to do something I loved. I wanted to control my own destiny.”

The Chef in Black’s epiphany involved something she often craved but couldn’t easily find.  “I was drawn to the idea of making a one-of-a-kind salad dressing,” she explains. “It had to be a Chinese salad dressing and marinade that tasted exactly like what you might eat in a restaurant.  It also had to be all-natural, fresh, versatile and, of course, delicious.”

Dorene’s 25 years in the food business provided great training.  She knew such a dressing was not in the marketplace.  She also knew where to find those out-of-the-way Asian markets, where the exotic spices and oils could yield their distinctive and luscious secrets. Her life-long love of cooking and eating healthy foods also guided her efforts.

After several back-to-the-drawing-board experiences in her Folsom, California home kitchen, The Chef in Black’s taste buds finally told her she had come up with the perfect blend of flavors.  In 2007 she left her old job behind and, instead, focused on her new passion.  “I found my dressing and named it Jaden (after jade, which is a Chinese treasure).  I was determined to tell the world.” By the end of 2008 her product was in 1300 grocery stores in California and Nevada.

Many people have asked Dorene how she came up with the name of her company.  “I like to wear a black chef’s jacket and matching pants — and, one day, it hit me that I really was the “chef in black”— the name of my company is a perfect fit.”

We hope you enjoy Jaden Chinese Salad Dressing and Seasoning Mix. Of course, it’s known to be an incredible addition to a salad, but it can also lend an exotic flavor to your fish, beef, chicken, pork or tofu.  Drizzle it over vegetables or create a sensational dipping sauce for shrimp or sushi. Use your favorite oil.  In fact, Jaden Chinese Salad Dressing is only limited by what you can dream of, so we don’t mind if you make it your own.  It’s one “aha!” idea that’s easy.

Delicious!

The Chef in Black