It’s no surprise if Chef Jernard’s name sounds familiar. Affectionately called "The Family Chef" because he loves using food to promote positive family images, he is a well-known TV host and celebrity chef with three bestselling cookbooks.

Chef Jernard has appeared on and contributed to top shows and publications including "New Soul Kitchen," "New Soul Kitchen Remix," "The Best Things I Ever Ate," "Food Fantasies,” "Today Show," PEOPLE, "Steve Harvey Morning Show,” “Rickey Smiley Morning Show,” ESSENCE, "Pickler & Ben," "Home & Family," Lifetime, HLN, Food Network, Cooking Channel and Oprah Winfrey Network to name a few. Additionally, he has worked with TV One Founder Cathy Hughes, Rushion McDonald, Tom Joyner Fantastic Voyage, Rickey Smiley, Tyler Perry, NBA star Jerry Stackhouse, Brandon Ingram, Lady A, New Edition and Bel, Biv, Devoe.

His hard work and love for cooking has earned Chef Jernard two Telly Awards, a Taste Award and James Beard house honors.

1. Preheat your grill: Make sure your grill is properly preheated before you start cooking. This ensures even cooking and helps prevent food from sticking to the grates.

2. Clean the grates: Before you start cooking, clean the grates with a grill brush to remove any leftover residue from previous grilling sessions. This helps prevent sticking and ensures nice grill marks. Chef Jernard also uses half sliced lemons to clean his grill grates.

3. Oil the grates: Once the grill is preheated and clean, lightly oil the grates with a high smoke point oil like canola or vegetable oil. This further helps prevent sticking and promotes even cooking.

4. Marinate or season your food: Marinating or seasoning your food before grilling adds flavor and enhances the overall taste. Allow enough time for the flavors to penetrate the meat or vegetables. Marinate at least 1 hour or more for great flavor.

5. Manage the heat: Different foods require different levels of heat. Learn to control the heat zones on your grill, such as direct heat for searing and indirect heat for slower cooking.

6. Use a thermometer: Invest in a good meat thermometer to ensure your food is cooked to the desired doneness. This helps prevent undercooking or overcooking.

7. Let it rest: Allow grilled meat to rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing or serving. This allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in juicier meat.

8. Experiment with wood chips: Adding wood chips to your grill can impart delicious smoky flavors to your food. Experiment with different types of wood chips to find your favorite flavors. Chef Jernard’s favorite wood chips Apple, Cherry, Pecan, Maple and Hickory.

9. Don't overcrowd the grill: Leave enough space between food items to allow for proper air circulation and even cooking.

10. Keep an eye on the grill: Stay attentive while grilling to prevent flare-ups and ensure that your food cooks evenly. Adjust the heat as needed and flip food at the right time to achieve perfect results.

WATCH Chef Jernard share his best grilling recipes on FOX 32 Chicago.

LISTEN to Chef Jernard as he joins Lisa Dent on WGN Radio 720 to discuss grilling tips.