CHEF BRADYN KAWCAK

Chef Bradyn Kawcak has built his culinary career around a deep connection to place, bringing together global techniques, local food systems, and the rhythms of the seasons. Raised in Northern Colorado, Bradyn developed an early appreciation for food, community, and the natural environment. After college, he spent five months in South America working in restaurants and on local farms before joining Cloverdale Farm and Restaurant in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, where he developed his passion for fine dining and hyper-seasonal cooking.

In 2019, Bradyn moved to Chicago, working in kitchens including Band of Bohemia and Entente before joining Elizabeth as Executive Sous Chef. He helped guide the restaurant through its evolution into Atelier (★), eventually becoming Executive Chef in 2024.

Today, Bradyn is the Executive Chef and co-founder of Catalpa, a Chicago-based dining company that brings the experience and creativity of a Michelin-starred kitchen into new settings. Through private dinners, farm dinners, tastings, classes, and other culinary experiences, Catalpa allows Bradyn to build menus around the season, local producers, and the people gathered around the table.