Nick Ritchie

With Napa Valley roots, love for culinary education and phenomenal restaurant experience, Nick Ritchie joined Signature Kitchen Suite in 2018 as Executive Chef when the brand was opening its state-of-the-art Experience & Design Center. Located in the heart of culinary-centric Napa Valley, the unique design center brings to life the brand’s built-in line of culinary appliances and “True to Food” mission. 

Chef Ritchie grew up around fine food and wine; some may say it’s in his blood. His father, who owned a small market in beautiful Napa wine country, urged Ritchie to get a job when he turned 13. It wasn’t long after he got his start at Tra Vigne, under Chefs Michael Chiarello and Carmine Quagliata, that he truly began to explore his passion for world class cooking.

When he turned 18, he attended the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y., and received his degree in Culinary Arts. This isn’t where Ritchie’s passion for education stopped, as he landed an internship at Sazerac under Jan Birnbaum in Seattle and in 2002, jetted off to Italy to work as a Chef de Partie in a Northern Italian restaurant, La Campagnola di Salo. He quickly learned the Italian language and how to make authentic fresh pasta and pastries. 

Though Ritchie fell in love with Italy – the cuisine, the people, the language and the country – his heart has always belonged on the West Coast of the USA. In 2006, he returned to California and became a culinary director on celebrity chef Michael Chiarello’s Food Network TV show. After nine seasons of the show – and helping it win a daytime Emmy – Ritchie wanted to get back to the traditional restaurant scene and was named Chef de Cuisine at Chiarello’s beloved Bottega restaurant in California’s wine country. This launched him into impressive opportunities such as working on the Bottega cookbook, preparing food at the James Beard House and rising to become a decorated and well-respected chef in the industry.

On any given day, you’ll find Chef Ritchie leading demonstrations at the Signature Kitchen Suite Experience & Design Center for the designers, builders, media and influencers, educating them on the benefits of the luxury appliance line and leading-edge technology.  Be sure to ask him about the Bistecca alla Florentina, a thick-cut porterhouse steak – it’s his favorite.