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about chef jay & The Gentle Barn
About Chef Jay
Chef Jay L. Weiner
Co-Founder of The Gentle Barn | Vegan Chef | Advocate for Animals, Health & the Planet
Chef Jay L. Weiner is a celebrated Vegan chef, culinary educator, and the co-founder of The Gentle Barn, one of the nation’s most beloved and impactful farmed animal sanctuaries. With locations in California, and Tennessee, The Gentle Barn opens hearts and transforms lives through the healing power of animals, and at the heart of it all is Jay’s passion for compassion, on the plate, and in life.
As CEO of The Gentle Barn, Jay leads the national operations and plays an essential role in the rescue, rehabilitation, and lifelong care of thousands of animals. Jay is on the front lines, personally rescuing animals from slaughterhouses, hoarding cases, backyard butchers, and cruelty investigations, restoring them to health and giving them a second chance at life.
Drawing from a lifelong career in the culinary arts, Jay combines his classical training with a deep commitment to plant-based living. A former restaurateur and corporate development executive, Jay transitioned to veganism over two decades ago in alignment with his growing dedication to animal welfare and environmental sustainability. Today, he creates and curates unforgettable plant-based experiences that nourish the body and inspire the soul.
Jay designs and hosts The Gentle Barn’s signature food events, from their beloved annual Gentle Thanksgiving (celebrating its 25th year), to exclusive Vegan Dinner Clubs, interactive plant-based cooking classes, and high-profile donor galas. His culinary creations have delighted world-renowned guests. Whether cooking for celebrities, longtime supporters, or first-time visitors, Jay infuses every bite with purpose, compassion, and joy.
He also teaches plant-based cooking at culinary schools, gourmet retailers like Williams-Sonoma, and Whole Foods Market, and regularly appears in digital cooking segments viewed by millions. His mentorship has guided thousands on their journey toward a kinder, more sustainable way of eating, empowering them with practical kitchen skills and deeper connection to animals and the planet.
A passionate speaker and advocate, Jay frequently shares his insights at industry events and conferences, speaking on topics ranging from ethical food systems and culinary innovation to animal welfare and corporate social responsibility. He was recently honored with élite Magazine’s “Gentleman in Business” award and continues to be a sought-after voice in the plant-based movement.
Jay lives at The Gentle Barn’s flagship sanctuary in California with his wife and Founder Ellie Laks, their children, and more than 125 rescued animals who are family. Together, they are on a mission to teach people kindness and compassion, to animals, to the planet, and to each other.
Vegan Chef Jay Weiner with Magic the Horse
About The Gentle Barn Foundation
The Gentle Barn is a national nonprofit organization, founded in 1999 as a sanctuary and place of recovery for animals and children. We rescue and rehabilitate animals from severe abuse and neglect who are too old, sick, lame, or scared to be adopted. The Gentle Barn rescues horses, donkeys, cows, pigs, sheep, goats, turkeys, chickens, llamas, peacocks, emus, cats and dogs. The Gentle Barn offers a unique philosophy of connecting the animals’ stories of survival and healing to the personal experiences of inner city, at-risk and special needs children who have suffered physical, mental or emotional trauma. By interacting with The Gentle Barn’s approximate one 200 animals and taking a hands-on role in their welfare, those who participate in the programs at The Gentle Barn learn empathy, trust and forgiveness.
Ellie Laks founded The Gentle Barn in 1999; it was a dream of hers since she was seven years old. Animals were always very healing and nurturing to her as she faced the challenges of growing up, finding herself, fitting in, feeling understood, etc. She majored in special education and psychology, and with her special love of animals and children, The Gentle Barn was a perfect way of putting all her talents and passions into one.
Jay Weiner joined The Gentle Barn in 2001 as a volunteer, but fell in love with the place and the mission and was able to bring his business knowledge, animal experience, experience working with children and love of food to The Gentle Barn. Ellie and Jay joined forces to heal even more children and animals together. Like Ellie, Jay also turned to animals for the support, love and nurturing he needed as a child who faced the same types of struggles.
The Gentle Barn started on a half-acre property in the middle of the San Fernando Valley, in Tarzana, CA. In 2003, Ellie and Jay moved The Gentle Barn to a six-acre ranch property in Santa Clarita, CA, where The Gentle Barn is today. The property is complete with horse and cow pastures, a red and white barnyard for the smaller animals, an organic vegetable garden, lots of shade trees, and a panoramic view of gorgeous mountains. The Gentle Barn's rescued animals are safe and happy at The Gentle Barn in CA, and there is plenty of room to welcome visitors from around the world and the children they host.
The Gentle Barn has a second location in Nashville, Tennessee. It is Ellie and Jay's goal for everyone in America to hug cows, cuddle turkeys, give pigs tummy rubs, and look into the eyes of these animals and know for certain that we are all the same, and deserving of the same rights, respects, and freedoms. Since its inception, The Gentle Barn has aided in the rescue of thousands of animals and been host to over 1,000,000 people. For more information, visit The Gentle Barn website.
