Francis Derby, currently the culinary director at The Halyard in Greenport, appears in recently released Justice Department records, which list him as Jeffrey Epstein’s private cook in 2012 and note his presence on trips to Epstein’s Little St. James estate. The emails in the release document routine discussions about menus, travel arrangements, and repeated mentions of large quantities of jerky. Derby has stated to reporters that his work was limited to kitchen duties and that he left the position after approximately six months.
DOJ records trace six-month stint across multiple properties
The documents are part of the Department of Justice’s public Epstein Library, created under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, and include operational emails, court filings, and photos related to Epstein’s properties. Greater Long Island reports that Derby’s name appears in more than 1,300 records, covering his tenure from May through November 2012. The materials detail travel arrangements and menu coordination for properties in Palm Beach, New Mexico, and Little St. James.
Emails fixate on jerky and freezer space
The email chains repeatedly note unusually large orders of jerky, freezer space for multiple bags, and requests to transport supplies between locations. In one public excerpt, staff recorded more than 70 pounds consumed over a short period. Coverage by The New York Post highlighted these details after reviewing the DOJ records. Overall, the exchanges primarily document kitchen logistics rather than communications typically cited in investigative or charging documents.
Derby says he stuck to the stove
Speaking to The New York Post, Derby said he accepted the private-chef position without knowledge of Epstein’s notoriety and described his responsibilities in narrow terms, focused on procuring food, planning meals, and providing culinary service. He stated that he was instructed to avoid common areas, that his work was limited to staff zones and dining rooms, and that he left Epstein’s employment in November 2012 of his own accord. Local coverage notes that the released records do not, by themselves, link Derby to any criminal allegations or indicate that he is under investigation.
Where he works now
Derby later returned to the North Fork and is listed as Culinary Director at The Halyard at Sound View in Greenport, a role highlighted on the restaurant’s website. Regional write-ups trace his path from prominent Manhattan kitchens and his work opening The Cannibal to his current North Fork post, as detailed by Dan's Papers and The Halyard’s own materials. The Halyard’s menu and events now showcase his seasonal, seafood-forward style.
What the records mean locally
The Derby references sit inside a much larger, months-long DOJ release that has produced millions of pages and sparked broad media scrutiny. For a wider government timeline and context on the disclosure, see reporting by The New York Times. So far, local outlets say Derby’s presence in the trove looks like the paper trail of a private-chef gig rather than evidence of criminal conduct, and no new charges involving him have been reported. The records do, however, shed more light on how Epstein’s properties were provisioned and have renewed attention on the wider circle of names that surface throughout the DOJ files.
