NewsFix Dallas Features Jacques Laventure: The Naked Chef in DFW
Publication: NewsFix – CW33
Date: July 2025
Jacques Laventure, aka The Naked Chef, brought heat to DFW—serving up food, fitness, and motivation at a Xerveo demo while sharing his journey from MTV’s Snack-Off to inspiring lives across the globe.
“Every phase of my life, I redefined what the Naked Chef was… I really had to rely on God.”
Featured in:
- MTV’s Snack-Off
- Fitness workshops for kids in Haiti
- Celebrity training with Essence Atkins, Tisha Campbell, and Billy Blanks
Chef to Open Wellness Center in Mosaic Dallas Building
By Heather Noel • Photo by Michael Samples
Published: May 9, 2016 — Dallas Innovates
Jacques Laventure, famously known as The Naked Chef, is redefining wellness in Dallas with the opening of his new JOQ Wellness Center. A bold fusion of fitness, nutrition, and community, the center offers a sit-down restaurant, gym, event space, and holistic care—including an onsite acupuncturist and physician.
From his MTV fame on Snack-Off to training celebrities and advocating for clean eating, Jacques’ mission is simple: “Outstanding Quality” in everything he does.
“We want to create an atmosphere where you can meet new friends, get rid of barriers, work on meditation, and eat clean food.”
Featured in:
- MTV’s Snack-Off
- Fitness events across the U.S. & Haiti
- Celebrity training with Essence Atkins, Billy Blanks, and more
Why These ‘Buff’ Vegans Chose Dallas
Published in: Dallas Innovates – The Vegan Voice
By: Courtney Garza
Date: July 22, 2016
Jacques Laventure, also known as The Naked Chef, was featured in Dallas Innovates for his bold move to bring plant-powered wellness to the heart of Texas. After launching vegan-forward fitness centers in cities like New York and Miami, Jacques opened the JOQ Wellness Center in downtown Dallas to combine plant-based nutrition, training, and total wellness under one roof.
“Wellness has many components to it. If we build people up and give them a place they can identify with, we can create a movement that transforms lives inside and out.” – Jacques Laventure
The article dives into Jacques’ motivation for choosing Dallas, his vision for the vegan fitness movement, and how JOQ Wellness Center is becoming a transformational hub for the local community.
American Celebrity Chef Jacques Laventure Brings Vegan Movement to Kerala
Published: The News Minute –
Date: September 21, 2018
Chef Jacques Laventure, alongside his wife Shyno Mathew, launched the internationally acclaimed Get Fit Eat Well program in Kochi, India. The event, held at Vivanta by Taj Malabar, aimed to raise awareness about plant-based nutrition and its role in preventing diabetes. Known for turning meat-loving communities toward clean eating, Jacques continues to inspire a global movement rooted in wellness and sustainability.
BMCC Alumni Spotlight: Jacques “Fitness Joq” Laventure Leads Wellness Movement on Campus
Published: BMCC
Date: June 13,2011
During BMCC’s Club Hours, students aren’t just talking—they’re moving. Thanks to Health and Wellness Club instructor and BMCC alum Jacques Laventure (’06), aka Fitness Joq, students experience dynamic fitness sessions that energize both body and mind.
A certified trainer and entrepreneur, Jacques brings his passion for wellness back to the BMCC community, combining military-style workouts with motivational coaching. From squats to planks to full-body routines, his free fitness classes empower students to take control of their health.
Jacques, who studied accounting, proves you can turn a business degree into a career rooted in passion. Today, through his brand Fitness Joq and workout gear line Joq Gear, he continues to inspire young adults to live healthier lives—starting right where his own journey began.
Why These ‘Buff’ Vegans Chose Dallas — Featuring Jacques Laventure
Published in: Dallas Innovates – The Vegan Voice
By: Courtney Garza
Date: July 22, 2016
Jacques Laventure, widely known as The Naked Chef, was featured in Dallas Innovates for bringing his plant-powered fitness philosophy to the Lone Star State. After success in cities like New York and Miami, Jacques launched the JOQ Wellness Center in downtown Dallas — a space that unites plant-based nutrition, holistic training, and community wellness.
“Wellness has many components to it. If we build people up and give them a place they can identify with, we can create a movement that transforms lives inside and out.”
– Jacques Laventure
