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Professional Chef

Chef Grace

Chicago, IL

Chef Grace, a Food Network champion, brings Michelin-level expertise to intimate, in-home dining. After training at The Culinary Institute of America, Grace built her foundation under Chef Thomas Keller at both Ad Hoc and the three-Michelin-starred French Laundry. Grace is celebrated for refined, seasonal cooking rooted in Midwestern warmth, her culinary perspective is shaped by both her professional pedigree and her personal story. Raised as the youngest of five in a close-knit family, she learned early on that food is a language of connection. Her path began in hospitality—as a server, then as a journalism and food science student, and later at Walt Disney World, where she fell in love with crafting guest experiences. Her curiosity for global flavor traditions led her across Thailand, Sweden, and Italy, including teaching at a cooking school in Umbria, Italy and studying regional techniques that continue to influence her work. In 2020, Grace opened Scratchboard Kitchen, a farm-to-table restaurant in the Chicago suburbs that quickly earned acclaim for its thoughtful seasonal menus and community-driven ethos despite debuting during the pandemic. Grace’s talents have been recognized nationally as well—she is a winner of Food Network’s Chopped, has appeared on Beat Bobby Flay, and received a Best Chef award from the International Fresh Produce Association. Today, Grace works as a chef-entrepreneur, offering bespoke private-chef experiences, weekly meal prep for families, hands-on cooking classes, restaurant consulting, and recipe development for major food brands. Her philosophy—composed, but not complicated—brings world-class technique into warm, memorable, beautifully executed meals designed for any occasion.

Professional Background

Studied at The University of Missouri, Bachelors degree in Communications & Food Science
Studied at The Culinary Institute of America, Accelerated Culinary Arts Program
20 years restaurant experience
International Fresh Produce Association, Best Chef/Family Restaurant 2024
Food Network's Chopped Champion
ServSafe Sanitation License
Sous Chef for Chef Thomas Keller
Three Michelin Starred Experience
Executive Chef and Opening Chef, Scratchboard Kitchen
Healthy Meal Prep, Bespoke Private Events, Cooking Classes, Recipe Development, Restaurant Consulting
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