Kristen Essig

Years of Participation

Born and raised in Florida, Kristen Essig graduated from the Johnson & Wales Culinary School in 1998. Seventeen years ago she made New Orleans her home, kicking off her Crescent City culinary career with Chef Emeril Lagasse at Emeril’s followed by a four-year turn with chef and mentor Anne Kearney at the famed New Orleans Restaurant, Peristyle. Prior to joining the team at Coquette in 2016, Kristen was named one of Coastal Living Magazines “5 Coastal Chefs to Watch” (2015) and nominated as one of Food & Wine Magazine’s “The People’s Best New Chef” (2015).

Kristen and Michael Stoltzfus have two James Beard "Best Chef South" award nominations (2017 and 2018) under their belt together as co-executive chefs of Coquette.