Joanne Purnell
Chef De Cuisine, Good Gracious! Events, Los Angeles, CA
After graduating from the California Culinary Institute in San Francisco, Executive Chef Joanne Purnell spent several years working, honing her craft in the kitchens of England and France. In 1994 she returned to California and joined Los Angeles-based Good Gracious! Events as Chef de Cuisine. During the past 20 years, Purnell has been instrumental in placing Good Gracious! on the culinary map with creative menus designed for large-scale events. Her work has been published in books such as “Inside the Recipe Box of Catering Chefs,” and in “Food, Fun and Love” in addition to articles in industry magazines. In 2009, Purnell received the highest honor of a catering chef -- Chef of the Year from the International Caterers Association. A leader in the culinary industry, Purnell continues to be a mentor to others as President of the ICA Culinary Council.
