Artis Crum II, founder and CEO, grew up outside of Atlanta, Georgia, with a passion and natural talent for cooking from an early age, enjoying bringing people together and seeing their reactions to his food. He attended Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte, North Carolina, earning an Associate of Science in Culinary Arts. It was there that he met a World Master Chef in 2015 who selected Chef Crum for his team at the Chevy Chase Club in Chevy Chase, Maryland, a wealthy suburb of Washington, DC. His training with top chefs in a fast-paced, fine dining atmosphere allowed Chef Crum to further hone his skills, including winning Silver Medal and Best Overall in the American Culinary Federation Competition.

 

In 2017, Chef Crum was hired as a Sous Chef at one of Maryland's most prestigious catering companies, Ridgewells Catering, leading a team to provide upscale event services. Chef Crum has earned certifications for ServSafe Manager and DOH as well as winning awards every year since 2021 in the annual DCHA Healthy Hospital Initiative Competition:

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• Awarded Overall Winner in DCHA Healthy Hospital Initiative Competition (2021)

• Awarded for Best Dessert in DCHA Healthy Hospital Initiative Competition (2022)

• Awarded Best Dessert in DCHA Healthy Hospital Initiative Competition (2023)

• Awarded Best Entrée in DCHA Healthy Hospital Initiative Competition (2023)

• Awarded Best in Taste & Appearance in DCHA Healthy Hospital Initiative Competition (2023)

• Awarded Overall Winner in DCHA Healthy Hospital Competition (2023)