Tiffany Williams
CEO Exquisite Catering and Events
So Exquisite
Chef Tiffany “Chef Mama” Williams is a celebrated Chicago chef, entrepreneur, and community builder whose work bridges culinary excellence with meaningful social impact. Raised in the Woodlawn neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side, she founded Exquisite Catering & Events in 2017 to bring elevated, globally inspired cuisine to a community long overlooked by diverse dining experiences. Her creative, made-from-scratch menus quickly distinguished her as a sought-after chef, leading to production catering for film and TV sets, concert tours, festivals, and major entertainment clients across the country and abroad.
Guided by a deep commitment to her hometown, Tiffany expanded her vision with Exquisite Kitchen, a licensed shared commercial kitchen designed to support and scale local food entrepreneurs. Through accessible kitchen space, business mentorship, and operational guidance, she helps emerging chefs and small food businesses navigate licensing, compliance, and growth with confidence. Her partnerships span youth workforce programs, neighborhood organizations, and fellow small businesses, reflecting her dedication to economic mobility and community collaboration.
Known affectionately as “Chef Mama,” Tiffany is recognized not only for her culinary talent but for her leadership, generosity, and unwavering belief in second chances. Her work continues to create pathways to employment, entrepreneurship, and stability for South Side residents. Today, Exquisite Catering Co. and Exquisite Kitchen stand as vibrant hubs of creativity, opportunity, and cultural expression—rooted in tradition, powered by community, and driven by a vision for generational impact.