A while back I had the pleasure of meeting Chef Chris over a cuppa coffee when he was attending an international chef conference and seminar here in Seattle.  Since then we’ve had the opportunity to chat several times and I’ve come to respect this man for his outstanding cooking skills, stores of knowledge and ability to communicate so well about the joys of making well-prepared food.

If you live the Chicago area you are likely familiar with Chef Koetke from his many appearances on local TV and radio programs. I catch glimpses of him on various national TV broadcasts of the Seafood Challenges where he has served as judge.

It’s an honor to have someone of his stature and caliber associated with Sizzle on the Grill and I wanted to make Chef Chris the first in our Guest Chef Profile posts.

Chef Koetke has developed many recipes for Char-Broil and is currently featured in a video demonstrating infrared grilling.  If you haven’t taken a look at his recipes – I’ve posted a link to the entire group plus a link to his video.

"Chef Chris"

Chef Chris” Christopher Koetke, CEC, CCE
Dean, The School of Culinary Arts of Kendall College

Christopher Koetke has been a culinary instructor at The School of the Culinary Arts of Kendall College since January 1998 and he was named Dean of the Culinary School in 2005. He began cooking professionally in 1982, starting at local restaurants in his hometown, Valparaiso, Indiana. He soon moved to Chicago and procured a position at L’Escargot on Halsted. Eager to expand his knowledge of fine cuisine, Chef Chris traveled to France where he worked in some of the country’s finest kitchens.

Chef Chris is a noted ice carver and was associated with one of the nations foremost ice carving companies, Nadeau’s Ice Sculptures, for 16 years. He has also consulted for companies such as The Soyfood Council, Todd and Holland Tea Merchants, The Pampered Chef, Char-Broil, and the Turover-Strauss Group. Christopher co-founded www.ChefTalk.com and for 4 years was a contributing editior to Chef, Fancy Food, Culinary Educator Today, and Local Palate publications. He has a B.A. degree in French literature from Valparaiso University, a MBA from Dominican University and a Certificat de la Langue Francaise from the Sorbonne in Paris..

You’ve probably seen Chef Chris serving as a judge for numerous competitions presented on Food Network cable TV and he is a frequent guest on WGN and ABC TV in Chicago and Chicago’s WGN food time radio show. He has recently filmed more than 150 video segments that air in more than 5000 Albertson’s stores and has filmed educational videos for the Soyfoods Council, National Pork Board, and Idaho Potato Commission. Oh, and he loves to GRILL!

See all of his recipes for Char-Broil – CLICK HERE

See Chef Chris demonstrate cooking on infrared grills: CLICK HERE