Chef Lauren
Local Veggie Lover!
A chef by trade and spirit with an impressive list of achievements:
Featured in Jersey’s Best
Cooked with Chef Dan Barber at the world-renowned Blue Hill
Taught cooking classes at Abigail's Kitchen in the West Village, NYC
First woman line cook at Charlie Brown’s Steakhouse
Worked at the 5-diamond Hilton at Short Hills
Adjunct Professor at Middlesex County College
Associate Degree in Culinary Arts from Middlesex County College
Meet Lauren
With over 20 years in the culinary industry, Chef Lauren Owens has worked her way from the line to the helm, holding roles ranging from Executive Chef to Adjunct Professor. Her journey began in a small-town sub shop, where she chased a love for pickles and pocket money, and has evolved into a deep passion for seasonal, locally sourced, and thoughtfully crafted food.She honed her skills in some of New Jersey’s top kitchens, including the Hilton Short Hills’ prestigious five-diamond restaurant, and expanded her expertise in New York City, where she built strong ties with Blue Hill and Chef Dan Barber.Now, as an entrepreneur, Lauren leads her personal chef business, Tiny Onion Chef Services, where she curates joy, awareness, and education through food, classes, and events. She develops individualized menus for her clients that highlight high-quality ingredients, balancing health with flavor. Whether she’s preparing intimate dinners, leading hands-on cooking experiences, or consulting on wellness-focused meal plans, Chef Lauren believes in making healthy eating delicious, accessible, and exciting.In addition to her work as a personal chef, Lauren is the Chef at Duke Farms, where she runs their local and sustainable café, curating a seasonal menu that highlights farm-grown and locally sourced ingredients. She also oversees the food program for mission-related events, ensuring that every dish reflects the farm’s commitment to sustainability and community-driven food systems.In all facets of her work and life, Chef Lauren believes…
“It’s a beautiful day to get better—and eat your veggies!”
"I have Known Ms. Lauren Owens since she was a student of mine at Middlesex College back in the 90’s and I have followed her in her career very closely over the years. She had worked for me at a certain point in that time, but I have also enjoyed interacting with her in the hospitality community when she was not.
Lauren has shown relentlessly to be a dependable, responsible and stable player in the local culinary world and a completely self-motivation professional. She has certainly shown to be a dedicated force as well as a talented individual in the hospitality field and her passion for boundless customer service is a wonder to behold. Her extremely strong organizational skills and stable job performance has made Lauren a pleasure to watch as her career has morphed, changed and developed into what it is today.
Lauren had shown to be a customer-focused professional and a role model for all others in the local culinary community. I can’t wait to see what comes next."
— Walter Leffler, Executive Chef, Director of Culinary Arts, Revolution Taproom and Grill