Gavin Kaysen
Gavin Kaysen is the award-winning chef and founder of Soigné Hospitality Group in Minneapolis known for his nationally renowned restaurants and cafés in the Twin Cities as well as his leadership in the culinary profession.
His restaurants in the North Loop neighborhood of Minneapolis include Spoon and Stable, a 2015 James Beard Award Finalist for “Best New Restaurant”; and Demi, an intimate 20-seat tasting menu experience nominated for James Beard “Best New Restaurant 2020” and ranked #3 on Robb Report’s list of the “10 Best Restaurants in North America”. In 2022, he opened Mara Restaurant and Bar, which was named “Restaurant of the Year” by Star Tribune and Minnesota Monthly. Socca Café opened alongside Mara at the new Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis. His latest venture, Cooks | Bellecour, is a neighborhood bakery, cafe, cooking school, and market for everyday cooking essentials started in collaboration with Karl Benson and Marie Dwyer of Cooks of Crocus Hill.
Beyond the restaurants, Kaysen debuted his first cookbook entitled At Home in late-October 2022. Several of the recipes in the book are accompanied by GK at Home classes—interactive virtual cooking classes that explore recipes and techniques for every level of home cook. GK at Home originally launched in October 2020 to inspire and connect with guests outside of the restaurant.
Chef Kaysen’s vision to create a more professional work environment for hospitalitarians has inspired activism in the local community and change on a national level through his involvement in the Independent Restaurant Coalition. With the aim of supporting the next generation of young culinarians, Chef Kaysen serves as the President of the ment’or BKB Foundation Team USA where he collaborates with two of his mentors—celebrated chefs Daniel Boulud and Thomas Keller. For his own team, he serves as the co-founder of Heart of the House Foundation, a non-profit created in March 2020 to sustain the growth, health, and prosperity of the Soigné Hospitality family.
His catering company, KZ ProVisioning, in partnership with Chef Andrew Zimmern, fuels the Minnesota Wild, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Minnesota Lynx. As part of his non-profit work, Chef Kaysen is also on the board of directors for the Fastbreak Foundation, the official charity for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Minnesota Lynx, T Wolves Gaming and the Iowa Wolves, which offers multi-year and annual grants that focus on the areas of education, inclusion and wellness.
Chef Kaysen is the proud recipient of two James Beard Awards—Rising Star Chef of the Year in 2008, and Best Chef: Midwest in 2018. He was a semifinalist for James Beard “Outstanding Chef 2020.” While he was working in New York as the executive chef of Cafe Boulud the restaurant received one Michelin star. In 2022, he served as the executive culinary producer for the 2022 reboot of Iron Chef on Netflix and appeared as a judge on Food Network’s Bobby’s Triple Threat.
