Johnny - Founder of Chicago Johnny’s Co (giardiniera, barbeque sauce, spices, and condiments) author of The Chicago Pizza Cookbook, and host of “Dinner With Downey” cooking show, Johnny has been in the kitchen since childhood. At a young age, his family would gather on Sundays for dinner, and all the guys hung out watching football or other sports while Johnny pestered his grandma in the kitchen. In these early days, when Johnny was just seeing at about counter height, learning about cooking was more about the smells and sounds happening more so than seeing what was happening. Johnny also watched Emeril, Justin Wilson, Paul Prudhomme, and locally, Mr Food on ABC 7 Chicago with his grandfather before “Food Network” and cable television.

So the earliest ‘public chefs’ to memory for Johnny were all Cajun & Creole chefs. In 2015, around the time that Johnny met Elle, they went to New Orleans for Jazzfest where Johnny got to be immersed in the culture he grew up seeing on television. Memories of cooking techniques, foods Johnny would see on television but never experienced in real life up to that point, were now all at his fingertips. It was a short trip down to New Orleans but memories of Paul Prudhomme cooking segments started flooding back, memories of reading cookbooks for fun from childhood pouring in, a rebirth of inspiration at a pivotal point in Johnny’s life. This trip ignited something in Johnny, inspired him to take this opportunity to try his hand at catering, festivals, and private dinners. Upon returning to Illinois, Johnny & Elle started up “Crescent City Cajun” selling scratch made, Cajun & Creole dishes at festivals, events, breweries… and catering weddings. In fact, Johnny & Elle’s first catering was an on site private event for about 50 diners, and Johnny & Elle were given a standing ovation after service. Starting off on a high note, Johnny & Elle’s truly began that night.

Johnny & Elle’s Rustic Gourmet is where passion in the kitchen, rustic cooking methods, and a love of Chicago and New Orleans meet. Focused on the BAKERY side of the kitchen these days, Johnny & Elle are thrilled to be exploring a somewhat unfamiliar territory. Chicago Johnny’s Co launched with some unique baking recipes that eventually were abandoned as the demand of Chicago Johnny’s Co giardiniera and spices started to take off. Getting to explore the meticulous, methodical, very different from cooking, baking side of the culinary world, Johnny And Elle are excited to bring their ‘rough and out of the box’ style to our bakery.