Hey There!

I am LEIGH ORLEANS

& I am immensely passionate about food. Hopefully you’re here because you are, too!

Trying new food, cooking food, sharing food, and traveling in search of good food has been what excites me my entire life.

You can watch me share my passion for food on season 22 of Hell’s Kitchen: The American Dream.

education

I have a degree in Culinary Arts from the Savannah Culinary Institute and a Master’s Degree in Wine and Beverage Management from the Culinary Institute of America. In May 2017, I graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a business degree from Kenan-Flagler Business School. 

early years

I grew up in Alexandria, Virginia with my parents and my younger sister. Living in such close proximity to DC, I was fortunate to always have access to incredible food and cuisines from around the world. This exposure to unique dishes and flavors sparked my interest in taking cooking classes and watching endless hours of cooking shows at a young age.

personal life

I currently live in North Carolina with my husband, Elliot. He is a Captain and a Blackhawk helicopter pilot in the Army, which means frequent moves and many opportunities to experience new areas. Our first home together was in downtown Savannah, Georgia. We have two feline fur babies and love travel, food, and libations.

travel

Travel has always been the greatest inspiration for my culinary creations. My passion for travel was reinforced by study abroad experiences in Sevilla, Spain and South Africa. I even met my husband Elliot on one of my trips to Mexico (turns out you CAN find true love on spring break in a hot tub). Together, we have traveled extensively including spending a month in South East Asia. This picture is from a trip to Venice, Italy when the streets were flooding, but restaurants still served amazing wine and Zuppa Toscana.