Kristine Kittrell

Chef Kristine Kittrell is the founder of El Chile Cafe y Cantina. She also helped open that restaurant's 'little brother,' El Chilito. After five years with El Chile, Kristine left to further her culinary studies. She staged in Barcelona, working at Michelin starred Comerc 24 and Cinc Sentits, and spent a summer studying pastry in Vancouver, B.C. After two years as executive chef at Mulberry, a downtown wine bar, she moved to Weather Up where she became the Executive Chef of an amazing little kitchen under the stairs. While the kitchen still thrives under her leadership, Kristine has broadened her scope of work at Weather Up Austin, where she is now the managing partner. She plays a key role in syrup and cocktail development, curates and coordinates events such as the annual Billy Reid shindig during SXSW, and polishes a lot of glassware. Weather Up is more than a job for Kristine; it is a family affair. Kittrell was also a competitor on Food Network's Beat Bobby Flay.