Early career

Capon attended the University of Maryland

University of Maryland

When the term "University of Maryland" is used without any qualification, it generally refers to the University of Maryland, College Park.University of Maryland may refer to the following:...

 where he discovered his talent in cooking for his friends, which he funded by accepting small donations. Subsequently, this led to Capon transferring to Johnson and Wales University, the only culinary school offering a bachelor's degree at the time, as it became clear that his interests were cooking, rather than choosing a major. He graduated in 1994 and accepted an offer from Charlie Palmer

Charlie Palmer (chef)

Charlie Palmer is an American celebrity chef, restaurateur, and author. He is best known for his namesake Michelin star restaurant Aureole in Las Vegas and sister restaurant in New York. He has received three Michelin stars. Palmer appeared as a guest judge on Top Chef season 6 and has previously...

 to help open The Lenox Room.

After that job, he went on to work for David Burke

David Burke (chef)

David Burke is an American chef and restaurateur, who grew up in Hazlet, New Jersey.-Culinary education:David Burke was educated at the Culinary Institute of America...

 at the Park Avenue Café, and was offered an exchange opportunity to work in Europe, where he studied cooking in seven different restaurants in France

France

The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

, Italy

Italy

Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...

, Germany

Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

, and Spain

Spain

Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...

.

Career

Capon returned to Manhattan

Manhattan

Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...

 in 1997 and was hired as a sous-chef at The St. Regis Hotel's Astor Court. He then became the executive chef at Alva, owned by Palmer. He left the restaurant in 1999 to work for a more upscale restaurant, Matthew's, owned by Matthew Kennedy. He was chosen by Kennedy to work for his SoHo

SoHo

SoHo is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, New York City, notable for being the location of many artists' lofts and art galleries, and also, more recently, for the wide variety of stores and shops ranging from trendy boutiques to outlets of upscale national and international chain stores...

 restaurant, Canteen, until it closed in 2004.

Capon then became the executive chef at New York City’s Lure Fishbar where he still works.

In April 2010, Capon competed in The Early Show Saturday Editions "Chef on a Shoestring" challenge, and prepared a three-course fish dinner for four on a $40 budget and spent only $39.11 for the dinner.

Capon has also been a guest judge on the Food Network

Food Network

Food Network is a television specialty channel that airs both one-time and recurring programs about food and cooking. Scripps Networks Interactive owns 70 percent of the network, with Tribune Company controlling the remaining 30 percent....

 competitive show Chopped

Chopped (TV series)

Chopped is a reality based cooking television series created by Michael Krupat, produced by Daniel Kay, and hosted by Ted Allen that pits four chefs against each other competiting for a chance to win $10,000. New episodes air every Tuesday at 10pm EST on Food Network.-Format:In each episode, four...

 and will make an appearance at the New York City Wine and Food Festival in October 2010 along with several other celebrity chef

Celebrity chef

A celebrity chef is a kitchen chef who has become famous and well known. Today celebrity chefs often become celebrities by presenting cookery advice and demonstrations via mass media, especially television. Historically, celebrity chefs have included Antoine Carême and Martino da Como.-External...

s. He has also served the People's Choice Award at last year's Food and Wine Festival's Burger Bash, hosted by Rachael Ray

Rachael Ray

Rachael Domenica Ray is an American television personality, businesswoman, celebrity chef and author. She hosts the syndicated talk and lifestyle program Rachael Ray and three Food Network series, 30 Minute Meals, Rachael Ray's Tasty Travels and $40 a Day...

.

He is to be the chef and partner of Burger & Barrel, a restaurant slated to open in October 2010.

Josh makes frequent guest appearances on Spike TV's Bar Rescue.