Ollie Walleck
Chef
Ollie Walleck is an Executive Chef challenging the norms of kitchen culture at Tthe Midway in San Francisco, California. A transgender chef who worked his way up without formal training, Ollie understands the breadth of the kitchen experience better than most. Born in Cleveland, Ohio to a large family, Ollie's passion for food developed at the dinner table. His professional cooking career began in his hometown, and took flight under James Beard Award-winning chef Jonathan Sawyer at the acclaimed Greenhouse Tavern. His time with Sawyer catapulted Ollie toward a fruitful career heading up beloved local haunts in Portland, Oregon. It was here that he started to rethink what it means to be both on-the-line and a leader in the third space. As he moved from cook to chef, Ollie also transitioned from presenting as a woman in an industry riddled with addiction and unchecked sexism to running kitchens as a white man. These experiences inform not only the way he develops a menu, but how he builds a team. Ollie sees leadership in much the same way as he sees food - a little seasoning mixed with a lot of love can yield something truly transformative. Ollie is now in Chicago, crafting playful dishes that highlight unexpected flavor combinations and dynamic beverage programs inspired by international flavors. He's been featured in Kitchn, EatQueer, MIC, Kayak.com, GOPRIDE, The Windy City Times, and more. When he's not innovating menus or testing a recipe, Ollie can be found at the dog park with his pup Murphy.