Meet Executive Chef Catherine Stewart, food service director at Jackson Academy, Jackson Mississippi. Chef Catherine has been with the organization since 2009, previously serving two Lexington and two business dining accounts. Chef Catherine holds a bachelor of science degree in culinary arts with a minor in culinary entrepreneurship from the Mississippi University for Women.
Lexington Independents has managed Jackson Academy since 2018, and Chef Catherine was a proud member of the opening team in August 2018.
Chef Catherine has an awesome team including Chef Ivan Gray, assistant food service director, and Jeanette Judge, supervisor.
Chef Catherine is adored by 1,400 students who are well-fed in the main dining commons that feature exciting stations that were just opened in 2022 like the Flame, Sauce and Stone, and a hybrid station featuring global to street foods. Students also enjoy the expansive salad bar and deli station. The students and clients love the fresh look, the fact that the salad bar is bigger, and the fresh fruit and yogurt bar!
Chef Catherine also oversees and executes an extensive catering program, and brought catering in-house! She’s always hosting a special or promotional event. In fact, Chef Catherine and the team will prepare over 1,000 boxed lunches for grandparents’ day – a day that children spend with their grandparents where they enjoy activities like student performances, physics in action, a panel discussion with students and grandparents, and the best part of the day – lunch featuring a choice of four sandwiches including:
- Chicken Salad on Croissant
- Turkey and Cheese on Wheat
- Club on Wheat
- Grilled Chicken Caesar Wrap
- With chips and a cookie.
Chef Catherine also hosts larger catering events for the school, pre-game meals, camps, and banquets. She was also a winner of the Elior North America Holiday Recipe Contest, where her recipe was featured in the Culinary Innovation Cookbook. When Chef Catherine is not serving our students, she’s enjoying time with her husband Rockie, and children, James, Tessa, and Chloe.
Thank you, Chef Catherine, for your dedication and for creating a successful and delicious dining experience for your students and faculty at Jackson Academy!
