About Us
Owner and Chef Monica Ann
Lover of all things food, self taught chef, Food Network represented, always staying ahead of the curve. Animal lover. stalwart Chicagoan embracing the Southern relaxed lifestyle - while craving some snow in the winter.
Quirky Factoid - Monica grew up working in a small grocery store owned by her parents - and as a six year old learned to butcher her first chickens, standing at the cutting table on a plastic milk crate. She credits the strength and tenacity of her German immigrant parents with her own spirit and feistiness.
Favorite food - Monica loves a good extra cheese homemade mac and cheese or thought provoking tater tot casserole
Favorite Soup - Italian Wedding Soup and Algerian Chorba Frek and Swabish Maulashen.... a seriously good chicken soup never disappoints....
and a good, solid Pho. (Obviously Monica Ann... she's a complicated one)
Her favorite movies are "Braveheart", "Harold and Maude", and "The African Queen".
Anthony Bourdain just might be her spirit animal
Theme Song - "I'm Still Standing" - Elton John
Managing Partner and Chef Wrangler Michael James
Self professed master of home barbeque. Chef wrangler and handler (because Monica Ann is a force to be reckoned with ) Voice of reason. Lover of the dogs (and the occasional cat) that need a forever home, and a Chicago transplant that has acclimated to the easier Southern way of life.
Quick Factoid - Michael James worked for the Federal Bureau of Prisons for 25 years before embarking on a private chef/private catering enterprise with Monica Ann in 2004. When the business dissolved in 2016, he thought for sure retirement was a clear and steady path.... yep. not so much.
Favorite food - A mint rosemary marinated lamb chop, grilled to perfection over an Isreali couscous... but he will not say no to a perfectly grilled half pound cheeseburger dripping in its juices with cheese arugula and plum tomatoes on a brioche bun
Favorite Soup - Italian Wedding Soup
Michael Jame's favorite movies are "West Side Story" (the original), "Red Dragon", and "Full Metal Jacket".
Though he is a big fan of Katharine Hepburn too.
Theme Song -"Don't Stop Believing" - Journey