Meet the Chef!

Born and raised in Missouri, Chef Pehr lived in St. Louis County attending and graduating from Oakville Senior High School. At a very early age he was introduced to the restaurant business working as a curb hop for Steak n Shake.  After a few years at that particular fast-food restaurant, Brian looked for other challenges.  Shortly thereafter, he began working at a St. Louis hotel.  It was during this period of time when he developed a real passion for food and cooking.  The next thing he knew he was enrolled in culinary school.

After completing school, early in his career, Brian found himself employed by various, hotels, country clubs, hospitals, convention centers, and fine dining restaurants in St. Louis and Miami. Since July 2010 Chef Brian has worked for Aramark (a food service management company) at Millikin University.  During that time, he served as Executive Chef of the Wornick Dining Hall, University Commons and to many Presidents of Millikin.

Over the course of his career, Brian has had the honor of preparing meals for some very interesting guests including President Bush’s national press corps, Vice President Cheney, First Lady Hillary Clinton, many state governors and sports figures.  However, his most favorite memory was cooking for Ryne Sandberg, Mark Grace, and Andre Dawson!

Brian has been married to Lisa (“the greatest wife ever”) since 2003. They met on the internet and were married in Las Vegas a year and a half later. In 2004, Lisa and Brian had a baby boy, Allan.  Allan is Brian’s pride and joy and “best buddy”.  Allan is often found tagging along wherever Dad goes. Lisa has often said she has two children, “one big and one small.”

Chef Brian truly hopes that you find the recipes in this cookbook fun and enjoyable. Food made with love will warm the heart, and the soul. Breaking bread with others will also enrich the body, and the mind. Use these recipes to help with the above tasks and get back into the kitchen.