With over 33k followers on Instagram and nonstop word of mouth, Chef Deluxe Me is legit the talk of the town in Perth Amboy and beyond. Manuary Castro, 29, is Chef Deluxe Me, a sought-after Personal Chef and owner of a very popular Latin Fusion Food Truck.

A Middlesex College grad from Perth Amboy, Manuary was pursuing becoming a Police Officer, working 4 years in the Perth Amboy Police Auxiliary rising to sergeant. But food found him.

Chef Deluxe Me began his foray into cooking at age 16, cooking at backyard BBQs with family and friends. Then at 19 he began cooking at a pharmaceutical company in Bridgewater, where he infused his creativity into the food. Someone from the company invited him to cook for them at their home. His first client was Mimi, cooking for a graduation party.

Since then, he has been very busy offering the personal chef experience. He has networked his way to success, cooking for people with large Instagram followings- such as a famous Peloton instructor and Instagram models and gaining new clients and followers along the way. Facetime played a role in getting connections too, with people showing off his food to friends.  He has cooked for famous clients including Fat Joe, Cardi B, Bow Wow and Bobby Crillz.

While busy working as a personal chef, he launched his popular food truck 2 years ago. Chef Deluxe Me Food Truck is at 581 Lee Street next to Washington Park in Perth Amboy on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 11:30am-7:30PM. The truck travels to new locations and events other days, upcoming in Bayview Park on Friday July 26 for Salsa by the Bay. The food truck has also been booked for special events like birthdays, graduations, and weddings.

I asked why Lee St and learned that there are only 5-6 permit spots a food truck can go in Perth Amboy. The ordinance doesn’t allow him to travel just anywhere, so he can’t just show up on Smith or New Brunswick Ave. Perhaps a revision of the ordinance is in order!

Chef Deluxe Me describes his food as Latin fusion, Dominican fusion, incorporating things he learns along the way. Family inspires him. The most popular dishes are mac and cheese “I have perfected the art of mac and cheese” and wings. He enjoys cooking steak and his favorite dish is the steak tacos. My step sons said the empanadas were the best they ever had. Other popular items include the loaded yaroa fries, mofongo topped with shrimp, chop cheese sandwich, patacon sandwich and chimichurri sliders. You can pull up, call or order online.

Along with word of mouth, driving his success is the creation of video content that brings the Chef Deluxeme experience to life. “Everybody wants to see what’s going on” says Manuary. He has a team that shoots video and cooks the food too! “Team makes it a success. For the launch of the truck, we brought video out to the public, used music about fighting fear.  Fear is a powerful thing, if you can push it behind you, you can move ahead” said Manuary.

Music is also an inspiration, “I’m inspired by life, what is going on around me and music is always going on.” His latest food video uses a song about women’s worth, “get a man you deserve.”

Chef Deluxeme’s advice to be successful is to “face fear and move past it.” “Always give it your all, don’t give up. The way you carry yourself, presentation, dedication- if you give it your all, keep pushing, don’t give up, keep moving forward.”