About Us

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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

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