Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Timeline
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Amy LaFollette

Kansas City,KS

Summary

Creative and experienced culinary entrepreneur with over a decade in the food industry, including leadership in private chef services, pastry arts, and event catering. Founder of Gather Cook Eat and Sweet Tea Pie Company, with a proven track record of building successful culinary brands rooted in seasonal ingredients, local sourcing, and personalized service. Adept at recipe and menu development, team leadership, and teaching a wide range of hands-on cooking classes—from pastry to full dinners. Recognized across Kansas City’s food scene for innovation, community connection, and delivering elevated, boutique dining experiences. Skilled in adapting meals to specialized diets including gluten-free, paleo, and low-histamine protocols. Passionate about bringing people together through thoughtful, nourishing food.

Overview

11
11
years of professional experience

Work History

Owner

Gather Cook Eat
Kansas City, KS
08.2024 - Current
  • Provide personalized private chef and meal prep services tailored to clients’ individual dietary needs, wellness goals, and lifestyle preferences.
  • Design weekly and seasonal menus using fresh, locally sourced ingredients, prioritizing partnerships with regional farms and producers.
  • Cater a wide range of events including intimate in-home dinners, private parties, and large-scale celebrations such as weddings.
  • Consult with clients to develop custom meal plans, accommodating food allergies, sensitivities, and specialized diets (e.g., gluten-free, paleo, low-histamine).
  • Oversee all aspects of business operations including client acquisition, menu planning, sourcing, food preparation, event execution, and customer service.
  • Maintain high standards of culinary excellence, food safety, and hospitality to deliver an elevated, boutique dining experience.
  • Lead hands-on cooking classes for individuals and groups, covering topics from foundational techniques and full dinner menus to specialty pastry instruction.

Owner

Sweet Tea Pie Company
Kansas City, KS
04.2020 - 08.2024
  • Owner and Pastry Chef of Sweet Tea Pie Company
  • Has written over 150 unique recipes since our opening
  • Partnered with local restaurants as a wholesale option for their dessert menus (City Barrel, CaVa, Blip, Betty Rae's)
  • Took over operations of The Russell on Main pastry program as "Sweet Tea Pie Company at The Russell"
  • Nominated for Best Pie and Best Pop Up of Kansas City in 2022 by Kansas City Magazine and The Pitch
  • Revamped menus and implemented quarterly updates to meet changing demands
  • Curated and taught various pie classes
  • Promoted business on social media platforms to maximize brand identity and generate revenue
  • Devised business and marketing plans and prepared monthly financial reports
  • Set pricing structures according to market analytics and emerging trends

Executive Pastry Chef

The Russell on Main
Kansas City, MO
01.2023 - 09.2023
  • Planned menu of desserts and pastries for all in-house offerings as well as all off-site catering.
  • Developed and taught recipes to the pastry team
  • Assessed inventory levels and placed orders as needed
  • Developed a cake of the month and pie of the month program to push bakery sales
  • Streamlined kitchen processes and wrote procedure manuals
  • Customized items for seasonal offerings, special events, and personal requests
  • Made connections with farmers at local farmer's markets in order to source the best product directly

Lead Prep Chef/Social Media Manager/2 Locations

Sura Eats
Kansas City, Missouri
08.2018 - 03.2020
  • Oversaw all prep and recipe development
  • Helped train and develop new talent
  • Modified standard recipes to address customer requests for substitutions or allergen concerns
  • Prepared dishes in a fast-paced environment working with teammates to maintain a high customer satisfaction rate
  • Helped other staff members complete job tasks during peak times to keep the kitchen running efficiently
  • Established and maintained open, collaborative relationships with the kitchen team to maximize efficiency
  • Created unique recipes and applied various culinary techniques for authentic Korean cuisine
  • Developed and implemented strategic social media marketing plans
  • Directed social media and digital marketing strategy and initiatives to promote brand building, guest retention, and revenue-focused activities for Sura Eats Kansas City and Oklahoma City locations
  • Crafted visual designs and brand messaging elements for consistency across digital advertising and marketing platforms

Chef

Unbakery
Kansas City, MO
02.2017 - 08.2018
  • Created unique recipes to expand the offerings at Unbakery
  • Lead dessert chef
  • Created custom vegan cakes and desserts for clients
  • Created new lunch and breakfast offerings

Private Chef

Self Employed
Kansas City, MO
11.2014 - 02.2016
  • Created weekly meals for private clients based on their dietary needs
  • Catered private parties in client's homes
  • Wrote recipes regularly to keep the menu fresh and seasonal
  • Worked in conjunction with a functional medicine Dr to offer their client's meal prep services as well as written recipes that fit their medical dietary needs
  • Worked with farms around the Kansas City area to source local produce and meat for client meal prep

Education

Photography

Kansas City Art Institute
Kansas City, MO

Skills

  • Recipe Development
  • Menu Development
  • Cake and Pastry Decoration
  • Culinary class content development
  • Budget and Cost Control
  • Team Leadership

Accomplishments

  • Partnership with Blip Coffee and Betty Rae's
  • Featured Desserts on the menus of CaVa and City Barrel
  • Featured in an advertisement for Lifted Spirits featuring a cocktail based on one of Sweet Tea Pie Company's Pies
  • Featured in an article on She's a Real Nice Lady
  • Featured in Kansas City Magazine
  • Featured in IN Kansas City Magazine
  • Featured in Feast Magazine
  • Nominated for Best Pie and Best Pop-up in Kansas City 2022

Timeline

Owner

Gather Cook Eat
08.2024 - Current

Executive Pastry Chef

The Russell on Main
01.2023 - 09.2023

Owner

Sweet Tea Pie Company
04.2020 - 08.2024

Lead Prep Chef/Social Media Manager/2 Locations

Sura Eats
08.2018 - 03.2020

Chef

Unbakery
02.2017 - 08.2018

Private Chef

Self Employed
11.2014 - 02.2016

Photography

Kansas City Art Institute

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