Where Culinary Stories Inspire Change

Chefs do more than just cook — they create, they nourish, and they pour their heart into every plate. But behind the apron lies a world few people see — the late nights, the pressure, and the mental toll that often comes with working in the fast-paced food industry.

Yes, Chef! Behind the Apron™️ is more than a project — it's a movement. Our mission is to celebrate these incredible chefs, shed light on the challenges they face, and make a tangible impact in our communities.

Through powerful storytelling, stunning photography, and chef-driven initiatives, we’re bringing awareness to two critical causes:

🥣 Fighting Food Insecurity — by partnering with local chefs and organizations to provide meals and resources to those in need.

🧠 Promoting Mental Health in the Culinary Industry — by offering resources, support, and conversations that break the stigma surrounding mental wellness in the kitchen.

Our 2024 Calendar was just the beginning. As we prepare for 2025, we’re building a community of passionate chefs, creative minds, and supporters who believe in the power of food to heal, connect, and inspire

Yes, Chef! Behind the Apron™️ is an organization dedicated to advancing food equity and mental health awareness through chef-centered storytelling and community engagement.

By documenting and sharing the powerful, often unseen stories of culinary professionals, we work to humanize the individuals behind the apron, raise critical funds to combat food insecurity, and provide access to wellness resources for those working in high-stress kitchen environments.

Our mission is to inspire empathy, activate community support, and create systemic impact—through the intersection of art, advocacy, and food.

Vision Statement

We envision a world where chefs are not only celebrated for their craft, but supported as individuals—where their stories spark empathy, their influence drives change, and their leadership helps eliminate food insecurity and mental health stigma in the culinary industry.

Impact Statement

Through compelling visual storytelling, collaborative community initiatives, and direct partnerships with food banks and mental health advocates, Yes, Chef! Behind the Apron™️ has already:

• Funded over 70,000 meals through regional food banks
• Elevated the personal stories of over 20+ chefs through portrait-driven campaigns
• Created platforms for dialogue around wellness, recovery, and resilience in the kitchen
• Laid the foundation for a growing national movement that merges art, advocacy, and action

With continued funding and partnership, our goal is to scale this model nationally—expanding our reach, deepening our impact, and empowering even more chefs to serve not just food, but meaningful change.