LOUISVILLE − After turns in fashion, fitness and behind the bar serving up drinks, Kenzie Kraft realized she wanted to work in the kitchen.
She said a special meal in Paris helped to turn her attention to food, and her focus to working as a chef.
Kraft, a Canton resident, is the new chef at UnHitched Brewing Company in Louisville.
Like many culinary professionals, she honed her skills through a mix of diverse occupations, and hard work.
Her first professional job, though, was managing the Pink department for Victoria's Secret. The Canton native graduated with a degree in fashion merchandising from Kent State in 2012.
She followed her heart, though, and moved to Arkansas, where she trained as a yoga teacher. Her focus eventually found its way to food, when the studio needed a chef.
“The menu was vegetarian, and the budget was 75 cents a plate,” she recalled.
The constraints of the makeshift kitchen pushed Kraft to be inventive and refine her culinary creativity.
In December 2024, Kraft returned to Ohio, initially planning to open a specialty food store. That changed when a friend sent her an ad for the chef position at UnHitched Brewing Company.
Kraft’s cooking style is rooted in familiarity, with her own unique twist. She’s passionate about scratch cooking and prefers refining classic dishes over chasing trends.
“I like taking what people know and love, then elevating it with new, accessible flavors,” she said. “Nothing fussy, nothing too serious.”
Her love of cooking traces back to her grandmother Gladys, who taught her the importance of quality ingredients and the potential of food. This commitment to quality was evident during Kraft’s time in Arkansas, where she ran a food truck and catering business. She sourced beef from a local farm and buns from a nearby bakery − efforts that paid off when her burgers were voted the third-best in the state.
For women aspiring to become chefs, Kraft offers this advice: “Figure out what gets you excited. Hone in on that passion and navigate around the roadblocks.”
Lightening round
We gave Kraft a quick quiz, honing in on topics related to food and fun. Here are her responses:
Sweet or savory – Savory all day.
If you weren’t a chef you’d be – Focusing on my candle business.
One ingredient you can’t live without – Fresh herbs.
Biggest kitchen pet peeve – Salt in a saltshaker (instead of in a small bowl for pinching).
Guilty pleasure – Flaming Hot Cheetos.
Dream travel destination for food inspiration – Oaxaca, for its authentic Mexican culture and cuisine.
Favorite food – Rancho Gordo heirloom beans.
Cooking theme song – “Hang on Little Tomato” by Pink Martini.
If you go
What: UnHitched Brewing Company
Where: 115 S. Mill St., Louisville
When: 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday; 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday, Monday and Tuesday
Phone: 330-871-8021
Bev Shaffer, Food & Drink reporter for The Canton Repository, can be reached at [email protected] or 330-580-8318.