Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dominique Leach. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Dominique, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Our mission is to establish inclusive spaces within the food industry. To represent woman, especially woman of color. The mission is to be an ally to our fellow business owner community. Be resourceful to them & ideally them to us in return. The mission is to represent for the culture.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m the chef and business owner at Lexington Betty Smoke House. I established my company in 2016 and opened my first restaurant in 2020. The restaurant has won a lot of awards including, best bbq in Chicago on good morning America. I’ve competed on several Food Network shows including being the Champion on Bobby Flays BBQ Brawl in 2024. I also own a retail line with products in several grocery stores.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

One story that speaks to my resilience is replacing my food truck after it was set on fire. It has still been one of the scariest moments in my life. I didn’t typically take the truck to my home after events, but after this particular event I was extremely tired. I made the decision to go home to get some rest instead of stopping at the shared kitchen where we kept the truck at night. While sleeping in my bedroom around 1AM I vaguely heard what sound like a window breaking. After that I heard footsteps running closer to my door. My wife came racing inside to tell me the truck was on fire. I quickly ran to the window to confirm it. She was right. It was a devastating feeling. I could’ve let it get the best of me, but I didn’t. I believed in myself and I was optimistic. I started over from the bottom and now I’m a renowned pitmaster.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I’m born and raised in Chicago. I have all the grit it takes to be a bad a*s chef in this very tough culinary culture. I went to culinary school at the Illinois Institute of Art downtown in the loop. I’ve worked in a lot of leadership roles and proven myself as a professional. I’ve worked for some of the best food and beverage operations the city has to offer. I’ve always been a sponge for knowledge and information that would leverage me. I’ve spent a lot of time practicing and honing my talent. My reputation is what it is because I have proven myself.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.lexingtonbetty.com
• Instagram: Lexingtonbettysmokehouse & ChefDominiqueleach
• Facebook: Chef Dominique Leach
• Linkedin: Chef Dominique Leach
• Youtube: Chef Dominique Leach

Image Credits

@House of Gaz

@ericvitalephotography