Lauren Cannaday

Lauren is a seasoned culinary professional with classical training in Culinary Arts and a degree in Culinary Science, Nutrition, and Restaurant Management from Texas Woman’s University. A Dallas native, she has spent over a decade as an R&D and Product Development Chef, contributing her expertise to several  national and regional restaurant chains.

At Parker Products, Lauren specialized in confectionery development, crafting innovative sweets that artfully balance flavor, texture, and creativity. Her work later took her to Ventura Foods, where she turned her focus to custom sauces and dressings — formulating high-quality products tailored to evolving industry trends and consumer tastes.

Since April 2024, Lauren joined the Culinary Innovation team at Chili’s Bar & Grill, bringing her passion for food science and product development into a fast-paced, customer-centric environment.

Outside of the kitchen, Lauren enjoys life in Dallas with her husband Kyle, and their two children, Violet and Griffin. Together, they love cooking as a family, exploring the outdoors on their bikes, and caring for their homestead.