CHEF ABBY KNOWLES

Abby is the creator and owner of Colorado Kitchen Collective. A classically trained chef, she attended the Western Culinary Institute (Le Cordon Bleu) in Portland, Oregon. After graduating, she returned to her hometown of Cincinnati to work under Chef Jean-Robert de Cavel at his four-star restaurant, Pigall’s. She would later take on the role of Sous-Chef at Chef de Cavel’s Lavomatic. Abby left the restaurant industry to start a family in Boulder, Colorado. She launched her natural food company, Life of Riley Foods in 2012 but after several years found she missed the kitchen. Abby transitioned to private chef and event engagements in 2016 with the creation of Colorado Kitchen Collective.

Abby focuses heavily on our food systems here in Colorado and beyond. She works directly with farmers and ranchers all over our state and region to find the best and most sustainably harvested products. She has served on the Board of Directors of Boulder Food Rescue – a local non-profit that aims to create a more just and less wasteful food system – as well as Boundless Landscapes – who’s mission is to convert lawns and underutilized spaces into thriving food gardens. Abby and family are now ranchers themselves, raising cattle, performance horses, layer hens, goats and rabbit in southern Colorado and the Panhandle of Texas. The XIT Ranch is a regenerative operation with a focus on responsible land management to ensure its health for future generations. More information is available at www.xitranch.com.

Abby welcomes invitations to serve as a chef and operational foodservice consultant for events, workshops, and private clients.