DOMINIQUE LEACH
Known as one of the most exciting BBQ chefs in the country, Chicago-native Dominique Leach is a classically trained chef turned nationally recognized pitmaster. First garnering culinary experience in some of the most prestigious kitchens in Chicago, Leach worked under the direction of chef icons such as James Beard award-winning owner/chef Tony Mantuano and Executive Chef Sarah Grueneberg (Monteverde) at MICHELIN-starred Italian restaurant Spiaggia, as well as with award-winning author and chef Raghavan Lyer at The Art Institute Museum. In 2016, Dominique and her wife Tanisha launched their own catering business, “Cater to You Events & Drop Offs,” which eventually led to the creation of Lexington Betty, a beloved food truck inspired by Dominique’s Mississippi roots and her grandmother Betty King’s soulful home cooking. When the truck was tragically destroyed in a fire, the setback became a turning point: instead of giving up, the couple doubled down on their vision and opened their first brick-and-mortar location, Lexington Betty Smokehouse, on Chicago’s South Side in the historic Pullman neighborhood.
Her expertise and soulful food has led her to her to international acclaim, including being crowned ‘Master of ‘Cue’ on The Food Network’s BBQ Brawl with Bobby Flay in 2023, as well as getting a spot on CHOPPED, being a judge/contestant on Food Network Canada’s FIRE MASTERS, and recognition as the “Best Barbecue in Chicago” by Good Morning America. She has also been named an ambassador for national brands like Chef Works culinary apparel, Steelport Knife Company, and Hellmann’s Mayonnaise, and has been invited to speak at international festivals like the GTCO Food and Drink Festival in Lagos, Nigeria, the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago, IL, and the inaugural BBQ Odyssey, heading to Kenya in late 2026.
Chef Leach and her wife’s hard work and persistence in a male-dominated industry have helped them to carve out a name for themselves in the culinary world in Chicago and beyond.
