Art of Catering Food
August 10 - 11, 2026
Allium Rooftop by Blue Plate CateringChicago, IL

Joanne Purnell
President at Good Gracious Events
Speaker

Profile

Joanne Purnell has been a staple of the Good Gracious! Events' team for nearly 20 years as Chef de Cuisine. Having a similar passion as her mother, Joanne graduated from the California Culinary Institute and soon after moved to England and Paris to gain experience working with modern, international cooking trends. With her innovative eye, attention to detail and cultural taste, she is also an educator and leader in the catering industry. She has received numerous awards including 'Chef of the Year,' and had her work celebrated in various food and entertainment magazines. Joanne is constantly in the kitchen, coming up with ingenious new dishes and visionary ideas. She will be a force to reckon with for years to come.