Meet Chef Gavin Kaysen

Gavin Kaysen Bio

Gavin Kaysen is an award-winning chef and founder of Soigné Hospitality Group in Minneapolis known for his nationally recognized group of restaurants as well as his leadership in the culinary profession. His restaurants in the North Loop neighborhood of Minneapolis include Spoon and Stable, a 2015 James Beard Award Finalist for Best New Restaurant; Demi, an intimate 20-seat tasting menu experience ranked #3 on Robb Report’s list of the “10 Best Restaurants in North America”; and Bellecour Bakery at Cooks of Crocus Hill, which serves an array of French bistro inspired pastries, desserts, sandwiches, and more. His catering company, KZ ProVisioning, created in partnership with Chef Andrew Zimmern, fuels the Minnesota Wild and the Minnesota Timberwolves. In October 2020, Chef Kaysen launched GK at Home, a bi-weekly live, interactive cooking class that explores recipes and techniques for every level of home cook. The latest project, announced in March 2021, is a restaurant and café in collaboration with United Properties and the Four Seasons Minneapolis with an opening date scheduled in 2022.

Chef Kaysen’s vision to create a more professional work environment for hospitalitarians has inspired activism in the local community and change on a national level through his involvement in the Independent Restaurant Coalition. For his own team, he serves as the co-founder of Heart of the House Foundation, a non-profit created at the start of the pandemic to sustain the growth, health, and prosperity of the Soigné Hospitality family now and in the future.

With the aim of supporting the next generation of young culinarians, Chef Kaysen serves as the President of the ment’or BKB Foundation Team USA where he collaborates with two of his mentors, and the world’s most celebrated chefs, Daniel Boulud and Thomas Keller.

As part of his non-profit work, Chef Kaysen is also on the board of directors for the Fastbreak Foundation, the official charity for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Minnesota Lynx, T-Wolves Gaming and the Iowa Wolves, which offers multi-year and annual grants that focus on the areas of Education, Inclusion and Wellness.

Chef Kaysen is the proud recipient of two James Beard Awards—Rising Star Chef of the Year in 2008, and Best Chef: Midwest in 2018.