Founded in 2005, Chefs Inc. is a beautiful, state-of-the-art culinary studio with eight fully equipped kitchen workstations.

Chef Leslie's philosophy is that cooking should be fun, creative, and exciting. Her emphasis is on providing quality instructions and quality ingredients with an understanding staff and small classes. This ensures that all students get personal, hands-on experience in a spacious work environment. We welcome everyone, regardless of skill level or experience, to come in, take a class and enjoy the rewards of fine cooking.

History:
Chef McKenna professional career began after graduating from Johnson and Wales University in 1985 where she received her degree in Culinary Arts. She moved to Manhattan to work for Mark Peel and Nancy Silverton at Maxwell’s Plum (sister restaurant to Tavern on the Green). McKenna then cooked at a high end steakhouse on the Upper East Side, Jake’s, as Sous Chef. She then moved to Los Angeles and started working for Piero Salvaggio at Primi Restaurant for a year and a half, then was promoted to Executive Pastry Chef at Valentino’s, ranked as one of the top ten restaurants in the United States. While there she was published in Wine Spectator and Bon Appétit, where the restaurant was acclaimed for “the pastas and glorious desserts of Pastry Chef Leslie [McKenna].” Chef McKenna sees dessert “as the last memory people have of their meal, so it better be spectacular.” Valentino’s desserts were legendary among food critics. At Valentino’s, Chef McKenna’s biscotti became famous and she naturally started the company Leslie’s Famous Biscotti. Today, Chef McKenna’s biscotti ships all over the world to private and corporate clients such as Chris Baker Staffing Company and Comcast, including the popular Biscotti of the Month Club.

In September of 1992, Chef McKenna was offered a job to work as a private chef for Bob Hope and she worked for the Hopes for four and half years. While at the Hope’s, Chef McKenna cooked elaborate dinner parties for guests up to 200 people, including such luminaries as President Ford, Nancy and President Regan, President George H.W. Bush, Ambassador Walter Annenberg, Leonard Firestone, Jack Hennessey, and a constant array of celebrities including Jimmy Stewart, Sophia Loren, Rosemary Cloney, Roddy McDowell and many, many more. Known for being generous entertainers with frequent houseguest, the Hope’s often had as many as five lavish dinner parties a week. It was there that she gave Mr. Hope her recipe which was published in magazines as Bob Hope’s Famous Lemon Meringue Pie, a frequent request among guests.