The Story Behind the Chef

Chris Desens, CEC, CCA, AAC graduated from St. Louis Community College at Forest Park with an Associate degree in Hospitality Management and later received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Lindenwood University.  Chef Desens worked his way up the ranks in the kitchen and has honed his craft at many establishments including: Clarion Hotel, Pfister Hotel (Milwaukee), Country Club at the Legends, Cardwell’s and Racquet Club Ladue. Chef Desens was hired to open the Culinary Institute of St. Louis at Hickey College as their program director in 2010 until he joined the team at Performance Foodservice Middendorf in 2017.

Chef Desens was a member of AAC Regional Culinary Team USA, which received a gold medal in the IKA Olympiade Der Koche Culinary Olympics in 2008.  He is a long-time member of the ACF Chefs de Cuisine Association of St. Louis, American Academy of Chefs and an ACF Certified Executive Chef, ACF Certified Culinary Administrator, ACF Approved Certification Examiner, member of the Honorable Order of the Golden Toque and Chaîne des Rôtisseurs. His wide range of experience will assist him in his role as Corporate Chef/CAB Specialist to focus on business and customer solutions.