Chef Charles J Drayton

12/09/2025

ECC Eatery Specials Friday 9-12-25. We are located at 140 River Ave in Patchogue.

Soup: Corn Chowder

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10/09/2025

“The Burnout is Real, But So is the Love”

Every chef knows the weight of burnout. It’s in the sore feet after fourteen hours, the aching back from leaning over the line, the exhaustion that no amount of coffee can fix. You wonder why you keep doing it, why you keep showing up to face the fire again.

But then there are moments that pull you back in, a perfect service, a plate that feels like art, a guest’s smile you never even see but know is out there. The love for the craft burns just as hot as the flames on the stove.

Burnout is real, but so is the passion. And sometimes, the only reason you keep going is because deep down, you can’t imagine living without the kitchen.

01/09/2025

Happy Labor Day Everyone

28/08/2025

Nominate and vote for Chef Charles J Drayton as best Chef by using the link below.

We want to hear from you, our readers, about what is the latest and greatest in Suffolk County! Whether it’s Best Restaurant, Best Florist, or even Best Dance Studio, we want to hear from you! This is a contest for the rest of us, local Long Island!

23/08/2025

The first time you put on a chef’s jacket, it feels crisp, clean, and almost too heavy.
You’re not sure if you’ve earned it yet. You wonder if people can tell you’re new.

Over time, the weight changes.
The jacket becomes stained, worn, patched with scars that soap can’t wash away. It carries the history of every service, every mistake, every small victory.

One day, you realize it doesn’t feel heavy anymore.
It feels like armor. The weight is no longer a burden, it’s proof. Proof that you’ve survived the fires, that you’ve earned your place, that you belong here.

The jacket doesn’t make the chef.
It’s the hours, the scars, the grind, and the grit that give it meaning.

But when you finally stand in it, tired, scarred, unshaken, the jacket becomes more than fabric.
It becomes a part of you.

22/08/2025

Chef Charles J Drayton will be live on Facebook at 535pm today appearing on The Financial Chicks Radio Show with Denise Nostrom. Denise will be interviewing Chef Charles J Drayton about his newest endeavor ECC Eatery, Exquisite Catering Cuisine LLC, and Exquisite Healthy Eats. You the link below to listen live at 535pm.

https://www.facebook.com/share/16g2VkWfdk/?mibextid=wwXIfr


ECC Eatery Chef Charles J Drayton Exquisite Catering Cuisine Exquisite Healthy Eats LI News Radio

15/08/2025

“Burns Fade, Lessons Stay”

Every chef has scars.
Some you can see thin lines across your hands, the smooth patch where hot oil kissed your skin, the faded mark from grabbing a pan handle without thinking.

Others, you carry inside, the shifts that broke you down, the nights you thought you wouldn’t make it through, the mistakes that taught you the hard way.

The pain fades. The skin heals. But the lessons stay.
They remind you to respect the flame, the knife, the clock. They teach you to move smarter, to watch closer, to never underestimate the kitchen.

Your hands tell your story.
Every mark is proof you’ve been in the fire and kept coming back.

06/08/2025

“Behind the Pass, We Lead”. The title doesn’t make you a leader. The pass does.

Because once you stand there calling tickets, watching plates, feeling the entire kitchen move through your words, you realize leadership isn’t about control. It’s about responsibility.

You don’t just push food. You push people. You watch for the cook who’s falling behind. You pull them forward. You catch the missed garnish before it ever leaves the pass. You keep the timing tight, the energy sharp, and the standard high even when everything’s falling apart behind you.

Some nights you’re in the weeds with everyone else. But you don’t yell to be heard. You speak to be trusted. You set the tone. You lead through the noise.

Because behind that pass, it’s not about ego. It’s about service to the plate, to the team, and the craft.

If they trust you, they’ll follow you. And if they follow you, you damn well better be worth following.

05/08/2025

If you missed today's show with Mark Guarnieri our meat enthusiast. Click on the link below. He answers a great deal of questions I get asked about the meat industry, how to find quality meats, and how the industry has evolved over the years. If you have questions for Mark that you would like me to ask in a future show. Leave your question in the comments below. Listen every Tuesday on 103.9 fm LI News Radio.

ECC Eatery
LI News Radio Chef Charles J Drayton Exquisite Catering Cuisine Exquisite Healthy Eats

Listen to The Chef Charles J Show 8-5-25 (Modern Meat Industry With Mark Guarnieri Part 2) by Exqcc on

05/08/2025

🚨 WOW! What a Ride! 🚨
Over the last 2 weeks, we've seen an explosion of new customers here at ECC Eatery — and we couldn’t be more thankful! 🙌

Let’s keep the momentum going! You can help by:
👉 Sharing this post
👉 Leaving us a review
👉 Posting in local foodie groups like Dine LI, Foodie LI, etc.
👉 Telling your friends, family, and neighbors to STOP THE CAR and come try our amazing cuisine!

We’re so proud to be a part of this incredible community. Let’s keep spreading the word — great food is meant to be shared! 🍽️💥

📍 ECC Eatery located at 140 River Ave in Patchogue — Where flavor lives.