AUSTIN MCKEE

SOUS CHEF

Chef Austin is a remarkable talent whose journey into the culinary world is anything but typical. Austin started his academic path at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, where he studied Mechanical Engineering and Environmental Sustainability—fields that rank among the top 20 programs in the country.

After graduation, he followed his true passion, merging his love for food with his commitment to sustainability. Austin began as a prep cook, with no formal culinary training, working under the accomplished Chef Justin Antiorio and Chef Dean Schreefer at Summit House in Summit, New Jersey. Here, he developed a keen focus on the finest local ingredients New Jersey has to offer. His dedication and talent quickly propelled him to work closely with Chef Jose Lopez at Barbacoa, where he rose to the role of Sous Chef in just two years, mastering a unique blend of traditional Mexican and American BBQ cuisine.

Now at Ōme, Austin continues to champion sustainability in food, pushing for environmentally friendly practices in both his kitchen and the industry as a whole. His journey is a testament to how passion, combined with dedication and a commitment to excellence, can lead to extraordinary accomplishments in the culinary world.