Meet the Chef

Chef Rikki

Welcome to Black Plate Culinary, the home of Chicago native and culinary visionary Chef Rikki—where every plate tells a story and every flavor carries a purpose. Step into an emulsion of bold tastes, deep roots, and fearless creativity, inspired by the streets, cultures, and kitchens that shaped him. This is not just food; it’s a journey through memory, struggle, and triumph, blended together with technique and soul.

Born and raised in the ghetto of Chicago as a bi-racial (Black mixed) child, Chef Rikki grew up navigating two worlds while trying to survive one of the hardest environments to come from. Like many young people in those streets, he battled typical teenage struggles—identity, anger, and the pull of the wrong paths. Those battles followed him into adulthood, where mental health challenges and a fight with his own life nearly ended his story. But the kitchen called him back. After time away, Chef Rikki found redemption behind the line, rediscovering discipline, passion, and purpose through fire and flavor. Today, he is chasing his dream of becoming a world-class chef, transforming pain into plates and struggle into strength through Black Plate Culinary. Here, every dish is proof that survival can become art—and that even the darkest past can create the brightest flavors.