Peden Rucker

Years of Participation

Chef Peden Rucker directs Patrick Properties’ celebrated culinary program across our historic Downtown Charleston event venues. A natural leader in the kitchen, Peden’s refined technique, and expertly-tailored menus reflect nearly a decade of experience in high-end event cuisine. It’s hard to imagine that our talented chef once pursued another career – as a professional baseball pitcher!

When a shoulder injury sidelined the USC Aiken graduate, he channeled his energy into a longtime passion for cooking, nurtured since childhood by his grandmother, whose dedicated focus paralleled Peden’s own disciplined sports training. Her respect for fresh ingredients, expansive food knowledge, and careful preparation further laid the groundwork for his next move. Peden hung up his mitt and enrolled in The Culinary Institute of Charleston, where he quickly excelled before graduating to the hospitality field.

Peden gained experience with Charleston’s top catering and events professionals, both as a part of the banquet team and, later, in executive management. He’s participated in Charleston’s most notable events, from the Charleston Wine + Food Festival to Lowcountry Local First’s Chef’s Potluck dinner, in addition to contributing his time and talents to philanthropic efforts like Feed the Need.

Here at PPHG, Peden’s dedication to excellence is coupled with the warm, winning team spirit that’s stuck with him since his baseball days. Count on our chef to knock your special event out of the ballpark.