Jason Heikenfeld is the son of culinary writer Rita Nader Heikenfeld and Frank Heikenfeld, the long-time manager of the former Heritage restaurant on Route 50 near Terrace Park. A graduate of McNicholas High School, he has lived in Cincinnati for most of his life. Heikenfeld received his BS and PhD degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Cincinnati in 1998 and 2001, respectively.