Having lived in Homewood most of his life, it's fitting that Chef Jeff Goldfarb also got his start in the cooking business here.

His first job in food was at a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant located where the Starbucks in downtown Homewood now stands.

He's come a long way since then. He's cooked for surfing icon Dick Brewer, Mr. T and ABC-7 sports anchor Mark Giangreco. Goldfarb's culinary passion and talent have taken him from Kauai to Alaska.

Yet, no matter who he cooks for or where he travels, Goldfarb can't seem to outgrow one specific title: He's the world's tallest chef.

Goldfarb is an even seven feet tall, an altitude that is supported by size 20 shoes. Nearly too big for the ceiling above him, Goldfarb requires items such as special raised cutting boards to allow him to do his work properly.

Lately, Goldfarb has been using his talents and unique celebrity status to give back to the community, starting with students in Chicago Public Schools.

"Once I first started volunteering, I thought, maybe this is my calling, maybe this is what I should be doing," said Goldfarb, who found his niche teaching kids the do's and don't's of healthy eating.

"Children really do look up to me, literally," he joked.

"Chef Jeff," as he's often called, works to teach children to eat healthier. He believes the younger you can teach children to eat well, the better off they will be in the long run.

"I went to a second-grade class, and the kids were excited having broccoli, cauliflower and carrots," Goldfarb said. "You give this stuff to 14-year-old and they say, 'get it out of my face, where's the chips and dip?'"

Goldfarb doesn't end his culinary crusade with children though, saying, "parents need to get taught too." Goldfarb said he works to educate and offer advice to parents who struggle with getting their children to eat healthier.

"Try to learn what your kids are saying and listen to them: work with them rather than forcing them to eat what you think is right," Goldfarb said. "Maybe they will want something that is extremely healthy, but different than you're offering."

Goldfarb's recent philanthropic efforts have begun to garner him media attention.  He has been featured on both ABC-7 and CBS-2, in addition to numerous other guest appearances on television and radio.  The momentum he's been gathering also has led him to create an illustrated children's cookbook, Learn To Cook.  While he's still searching for a publisher, Goldfarb continues to optimistically conjure up ways to reach out to the public. 

A few of his aspirations match his stature; for example, his idea for a Saturday morning World's Tallest Chef cartoon show.

"This is dreaming big, but I do dream big," a smiling Goldfarb said.

Despite all the publicity and aspiration, "Chef Jeff" never forgets his origins. His favorite food?

"Fried chicken," he said. "In moderation, of course."

Chef Jeff Goldfarb currently works as a private chef. To learn more, visit his website.