NJ Chef Continues Immigrant Success Story With New Restaurant

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — When Roger Miller emigrated to New York at the age of 17 from Guyana, he dreamed of becoming a chef one day. Little did the father and husband know that he’d end up putting his culinary skills to the test for multi-Grammy Award winning singer Lauryn Hill.

But Miller’s awesome gig as Hill’s personal cook is only one accomplishment among many for the East Orange resident, who also served as a staff chef for “one of the best cancer hospitals in New York City” and earned a culinary arts degree from the Art Institute of New York City.

On Friday, “Chef Roger” wrote a new chapter in his inspiring immigrant success story, opening a family restaurant with his wife, Andrea Tucker-Miller at 442 Main Street in East Orange. Their new eatery, Spice N Thing, will allow the cook to pursue his dream of combining “community and amazing food.”

Miller’s friends and family described his quest to open his own restaurant in a GoFundMe campaign earlier this year.

“Born and raised in Guyana, Roger Miller [emigrated] to New York at the age of 17 with hopes of one day becoming a chef. In December of 2007 he graduated from the Arts Institute of New York City with an associates degree in culinary arts. In the midst of going to school, Roger also juggled being an employee, caring husband to his wife and father to his four beautiful children. Chef Roger has made many accomplishments from being a personal celebrity chef to a multi Grammy award winner, being a staff chef for one of the best cancer hospitals in New York City and making it his priority to serve his community church and his family. Chef Roger has always dreamed of opening a restaurant where community and amazing food united. In hopes of making this dream a reality, we are reaching out to those close to us who have seen the quality behind Chef Roger’s food. We are hoping that you can make a contribution to turn this dream into reality.”

That dream was realized on Aug. 17 when Spice N Thing held a grand opening event. (Learn more about the restaurant here)

East Orange Mayor Ted Green gave the Millers’ new restaurant an enthusiastic thumbs-up at a ribbon cutting ceremony.

“The Millers, who are East Orange homeowners, are offering the best of Caribbean cuisine,” city officials wrote. “In fact, Chef Roger is the personal chef for no other than Ms. Lauryn Hill.”

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Main photo via GoFundMe, a Patch promotional partner