CHEF
Jen Williams
Culinary affiliations
Social
James Beard Award nominee for 2026, Chef Jen Williams brings national recognition to Telluride, leading Van Atta with precision, creativity, and a mentorship-driven foundation.
Chef Jen Williams has spent over two decades refining a technique-driven, ingredient-focused approach shaped by experience across Texas and Chicago. After training under acclaimed chefs Michael Kornick and Erick Williams at MK and Virtue, she built a foundation rooted in precision and discipline, including the opportunity to cook for President Obama. She returned to Texas to lead Magnolia Cheese Company as executive chef at 28, later contributing to standout kitchens including Lucia and Michelin-recognized Georgie in Dallas.
Her work extends beyond restaurants into culinary education, private chef leadership for UHNW clients, and advocacy as a Chef Ambassador supporting local farms and sustainability initiatives. Now based in Telluride, she serves as Executive Chef at Van Atta, where her leadership has earned a 2026 James Beard Award nomination for Best New Bar, alongside national recognition from Food Network’s Chopped.
