Chef Jemar’s journey into the world of cooking began out of necessity but swiftly transformed into a pursuit of passion. “Mom worked two jobs, so, you know, we had to eat. So, you know, somebody had to make it,” he recalls. His commitment to the culinary arts grew from family gatherings to a full-fledged business endeavor in 2021, with Scratch House becoming a staple in Columbus, Ohio’s food scene.

The name Scratch House is a testament to Chef Jemar’s philosophy of crafting meals from the ground up, with each ingredient meticulously chosen and each dish prepared from scratch. “Pretty much everything that I do is pretty much prepared from scratch. There is pretty much every meal, every tasting, every whatever, everything is, you know, be made from scratch like a feel,” Chef Jemar explains. This approach extends to his refusal to use store-bought sauces, opting instead to create every component by hand, ensuring a unique and authentic flavor profile that cannot be replicated.

Chef Jemar’s specialties are as diverse as they are delicious. From homemade meatballs that have patrons coming back for more to a smoked chicken that’s the talk of the town, his menu is ever-evolving. “I have a spectrum. There’s like nothing I won’t do. So every event, every meal can be different,” he says. Scratch House doesn’t just cater to one palate; it’s a cornucopia of choices, accommodating every dietary preference from vegan to carnivore. This dedication to variety is a hallmark of Chef Jemar’s commitment to inclusivity in dining. “I do so much because I cater to everybody. Everybody got something different that they want,” he adds.