Our Story
Great food brings people together.
What started as one chef's passion has grown into a team dedicated to unforgettable meals, made in your home.
Founded on a simple belief.
Elite Personal Chefs started with a simple idea: bring restaurant-quality food to people's homes, without the fuss. No catering trucks. No buffet lines. Just a talented chef, your kitchen, and a meal that brings everyone to the table.
After training at 3-Michelin-star Alinea and teaching at Le Cordon Bleu, Chef Austin Yancey saw a gap. Families and event hosts wanted more than food — they wanted to be guests at their own table. So he built a cooperative where chefs could leave the restaurant grind and earn a real living doing what they love.
Today, our team of 100+ chefs serves families and businesses across the country. Every meal is crafted with care. Every event executed with precision. And every kitchen left cleaner than we found it.
At EPC, our mission is to empower chefs to be financially independent — while delivering unforgettable culinary experiences to every client we serve.
What makes us different.
Instant quotes, no phone tag.
Our calculator gives you a transparent price in under 5 minutes. No waiting. No guessing. Tell us what you need and we'll show you what it costs — right away.
Your chef handles everything.
Shopping, cooking, serving, and cleanup. You show up to your own party as a guest. We handle every detail so you can enjoy every moment.
Nationwide, but personal.
Whether you're in Greenville, Chicago, or our growing list of cities — every experience feels like your chef knows you. Because they do.
Our leadership.
Austin Yancey, CEC, CCE, PCEC
CEO & Founder
Chef Austin Yancey grew up in South Carolina where he first discovered a passion for cooking in his grandmother’s kitchen. Working in restaurants throughout high school, he fell in love with the industry and decided to move to Chicago and pursue a career in culinary arts. Chef Austin spent years training as a competitive cook while also working in various kitchens before landing his dream job at world renowned Alinea, a 3-Star Michelin restaurant in Chicago. After leaving Alinea, Chef Austin joined the Culinary Instructor team at Le Cordon Bleu Chicago, where he helped design curriculum and maintain accreditation standards, and created the school’s first competition cooking club. Now as the CEO and Founder of EPC, he is on a mission to teach hospitality professionals how to create long-term success, independently.
Jean Tomaro
Co-CEO & Co-Founder
Originally from Michigan, Jean graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Fine Arts before moving to Chicago to pursue her creative talents. Her career ultimately led her to the hospitality industry, where she discovered a deep passion for wine, service, and the guest experience. A Certified Sommelier with more than 25 years of hospitality experience, Jean previously worked at the three-Michelin-starred L2O and has built an extensive career in corporate beverage leadership. She currently serves as Senior Executive Beverage Director at Hogsalt, overseeing beverage programs across Chicago, New York, Las Vegas, Miami, Nashville, and Paris.
Lee Turman
COO & Co-Founder
A Chicago native, Lee spent a career in Corporate America before pursuing his passion for culinary and hospitality, building more than 25 years of marketing experience at Motorola, Argonne National Laboratory, and Thermo Fisher Scientific along the way. A Le Cordon Bleu culinary arts graduate, he now serves as Co-Founder and COO of EPC, where he also leads the company’s graphic design.
Ready for something special?
Tell us about your event and we'll handle the rest.