Chicago-based Chef
Jeff is a culinary professional with over 15 years of experience in research and development, creative strategy, event management, leading multiple restaurant openings, and serving as an executive chef in numerous high-end restaurants.
15+ Years
Luxury Food & Beverage Experience
Chef Jeff Stone
Chef Jeff’s eclectic culinary style has its roots in his family’s frequent moves throughout his childhood. Due to his father's growing business, the Stone family moved every two years from Jeff’s first birthday until he turned eighteen.
Adjusting to new environments and meeting new people became the foundation for his passion for travel, culture, and culinary exploration.
Education & Early Career
After earning a Bachelor of Science in Restaurant Management from Georgia Southern University in 2010, Jeff moved to Atlanta and worked through every station at La Tavola Trattoria.
Restaurant Openings
After joining Limelight Catering in Chicago in 2023 as R&D Chef, Jeff advanced to Chef de Cuisine and became Executive Chef in May 2025
World Travel
Between 2016 and 2019, Jeff backpacked through 33 countries, staging in kitchens across Argentina, Chile, and the Czech Republic.
Coachella & Touring
Jeff became a catering chef for Coachella Music Festival and later toured North America cooking for Imagine Dragons, Shinedown, and Pentatonix.
Executive Leadership
Jeff served as Executive Chef of Briar Common Brewery, Special Projects Chef of Serendipity Catering, and most recently, Executive Chef of Limelight Catering.
Education & Work Experience
Georgia Southern University
Bachelor of Science Hotel / Restaurant Management
Minor: Business Administration
Graduated: 2010
Limelight Catering — Executive Chef
2025 – August 2026Department Head for Culinary, responsible for production, menu rollouts, private dinners, event management, training, vendor relations, scheduling, tastings, and full financial oversight.
Limelight Catering — Chef de Cuisine
2024 – 2025Oversaw kitchen operations, staff leadership, menu execution, inventory management, and ensured exceptional culinary standards for events and private dining experiences.
Limelight Catering — Head of R&D
2023 – 2024Led culinary innovation, menu research and development, recipe testing, and operational improvements while supporting large-scale catering events and production systems.
Serendipity Catering — Special Projects Chef
March 2022 – June 2023Lead expo for events, high-end client menu execution, on-site chef duties and prep sheet management.
Culinary Dropout — Executive Sous Chef
July 2021 – February 2022Opening team member responsible for staff leadership, inventory, scheduling, expo and kitchen management.
Certification
SERVSAFE Certified · Chicago, IL · Exp. 2027
Languages
Kitchen Spanish
Catering Work
- Limelight Catering — Head of R&D / Executive Chef
- Serendipity Catering — Special Projects Chef
- Coachella Music & Arts Festival — Catering Team
- FORTNITE Catering Team
- Shinedown USA/CAN Tour
- Pentatonix USA/CAN Tour
- Imagine Dragons EVOLVE
- Vans Warped Tour
Restaurant Work
- Briar Common Brewery — Executive Chef
- Culinary Dropout — Executive Sous Chef
- Forza Storico — Executive Chef
- 1KEPT Kitchen + Cocktails — Executive Chef
- Union Hill Restaurant — Sous Chef & Pastry Chef
- SLATE Orlando — Sous Chef
- La Tavola Trattoria — Line Cook
- HD1 + FLIP Burger Boutique — Opening Team