Stephen Kingston Bio

Stephen began his culinary journey as a boy in his

Grandmothers kitchen. Every fall they would make apple sauce
and every spring strawberry-rhubarb pie. Their trips to the
orchards and strawberries fields were the beginning of his passion
for food. This carried on in the kitchen at home with his mother.

Stephen got his start in the restaurant business as a young

man working in kitchens of various local establishments. In his
mid-twenties, his passion for the business led to his decision to
attend Johnson & Wales University where he graduated with
honors. During his time at JWU he received the Distinguished
Visiting Chef Scholarship which is awarded to three students
annually.

Stephen began his professional career as a private Chef in

Cape Cod. Soon after, Stephen took his talents to the Hyatt
Corporation where he served in many capacities within the
kitchen and front of the house. Stephen worked in Hyatt
properties in Key West FL, Dearborn MI, Pittsburgh PA, and
Cambridge MD. In his career at Hyatt, Stephen was named
manager of the quarter and placed first in crab cook offs over
multiple years.

Soon after being married to his wife Deena, Stephen made

the decision to work in higher education. At this point Stephen
became Executive Chef at Rochester Institute of Technology.
Stephens strong commitment to excellence lead the way for
plated dinners of 1250, buffets of 1700, and pizza parties with
200 sheet pizzas and 500 dozen wings. In June of 2014 Stephen
eagerly accepted the position of Assistant Executive Chef for
Campus Auxiliary Services at SUNY Geneseo. Here Stephen
utilized his passion, skills, and community awareness to lead the
team at Letchworth Dinning Complex. In 2015 Stephen began
teaching Culinary Arts at Genesee Valley Educational Partnership.
As a teacher he has engaged students in the field of culinary arts.
He has challenged these students in events such as Dish it Out,
Cure Brunch & Feed the Need. Where Chef Kingston and his
students competed against the areas best chefs. Some of Chef
 Stephen Kingston Bio
Kingstons students have placed regionally and state wide in
culinary competitions.

In 2013 Stephen was runner up in the ACF Chef of the Year

competition for the Rochester chapter. Then in 2014 Stephen
took top honors and was named the Rochester chapter ACF Chef
of the Year. He also captained a team of chefs whom received a
bronze medal in an American Culinary Federation mystery basket
competition and earned a second place finish in a national recipe
contest for General Mills.

Stephen and Deena are proud parents of two children Lyla

and Abel, and a Black Labrador named Arlo. Stephen enjoys
spending time with his family and can be found Sunday mornings
making scratch pancakes with his kids.