Jim Murray

The Climb

Since 1989, Prairie House has been the anchor point in Jim Murray’s work: founder and operator in Cross Roads, TX, he has kept the business running as a long-term exercise in consistency, judgment, and hospitality. That kind of continuity matters in a kitchen; it gives a cook room to refine standards without losing the practical demands of the room. Murray’s parallel role at the National Pork Board extends that same discipline into menu development, where the task is not simply to put pork on a plate but to shape how it is framed, prepared, and understood.

Today

Prairie House remains the central reference point in Jim Murray’s professional life, with the founder and operator role holding since 1989. A business that lasts this long depends on repeatable execution as much as ideas, and that balance shows in the way his work is described: steady, public-facing, and tied to the daily requirements of service. At the National Pork Board, he works as national channel marketing manager and chef, building menus that present pork through a marketer’s lens and a chef’s palate at the same time. The line he has used — “People want to make a connection with how their food is grown.” — puts origin and handling on the same level as finished flavor. So does his other remark, “The farmers are the rock stars.” It is a plainspoken way of placing the source ahead of the spotlight.

Career - founder and operator — Prairie House, Cross Roads, TX (1989–present) - national channel marketing manager and chef — National Pork Board

Signature

Bourbon Bacon Pig Butter is the kind of signature that tells you what kind of kitchen Jim Murray runs: direct, assertive, and built to make pork read as something with range, not just familiarity.

In Their Words “People want to make a connection with how their food is grown.” “Serving farmers is what my job is all about.”

Recognition

Worldchefs Certified Executive Chef is the credential attached to Jim Murray’s name, marking the professional standard behind years of sustained kitchen and industry work.

FAQ What is Jim Murray's current role? As of 2026, Jim Murray is Restaurant Owner. What recognition has Jim Murray received? Worldchefs Certified Executive Chef. What is Jim Murray known for? Creating new menus to showcase the unique flavor of pork in every dish.