Artist Spotlight: Chef Kat Turner
"I met Kat Turner at a friend’s birthday party, and fate clearly has a sense of humor. She walked in rocking a pair of pants made from the exact fabric/print of a blouse I’d owned for years, one I’d almost donated just days before. I told her the story, and her eyes lit up as she confessed she’d always regretted not buying the matching top. So naturally, I offered her mine. Instant fashion kismet and the beginning of a fabulous friendship."
- Belinda
Tell us a little bit about yourself—who is Kat? For anyone meeting you for the first time, how would you describe what you do and who you are in this chapter of your life?
Great question... I'm just finally figuring that out now and it's strangely so hard to describe other than saying that I'm simply myself. As you get older you really learn what makes you feel like YOU, the work you do, the people you surround yourself with, the home you build, and the clothes you wear. I believe that one must to continue to seek that out to feel complete. I'm from Wisconsin so there is a deeply grounded, sensible, hard working, kind midwesterner at the core of my soul. But I also moved to LA 25 years ago because I needed MORE, I took that foundation and I added all the glamour and grit that I've collected over the years. I went to art school, became an actress and a burlesque performer, traveled for a decade as a private chef to A-listers, and finally opened Highly Likely. Today I'm sitting in our 3rd location in Ojai as a flurry of construction workers are finishing up and our team is training; it's wild to look back and see how all the pieces came together... never in a million years could I have predicted all this.
You’re not just a chef—you’re a curator, designer, performer... What connects all those creative identities for you?
Performance is at the core of everything I do and all those vehicles allow me to show people who I am, whether you are sitting in one of my restaurants or laughing over a martini in my home.
You’ve said “enjoy it, destroy it” is a kind of creative motto. How does that show up in your life these days—beyond food?
Life is meant to be temporary, enjoy as much as you can and then let it go. The only things that last are the impressions we make on others (and the pictures that live on the internet - so don't forget your lipstick).
When you’re developing a new dish, do you usually follow intuition, or is it more structured and deliberate?
I usually get a hit of inspiration; flavors melding in my mind, the rough sketch of a plate... and then I dive into the mechanics of the dish which I tend to be fairly structured with; choosing the right ingredients, weighing things out, and lots of notes. But I never work a dish to death, it either tastes right or it doesn't.
What’s your favorite place you’ve traveled to.
In an alternate dimension I live in Lisbon, there is an incredibly deep sense of magic and playfulness there, and of course the food is fantastic (I was a tin fish girlie before it was all the rage).
You love going out to eat and sharing meals—what’s your current favorite LA spot for a girls’ night dinner (besides Highly Likely, of course)?
Speaking of tin fish... My dear friend Lydia has a perfect little spot downtown called Kippered which is a conserva and champagne bar. She's also a world class cheesemonger and her partner Reed is an excellent chef, so you know the snacks are next level. I always have my girls nights out there and we snack and sip and laugh our heads off late into the night.
Your shoe game is seriously impressive—do you have a go-to pair or a first love?
I have a pair of gold Prada disco platform sandals that are wildly comfortable despite their high heels, I've dance a thousand miles in them.
What do you wear when you want to feel powerful—like you're stepping fully into your main character energy?
Red lipstick. I could be a pair of coveralls or a gown, but when I put on the lip you know I mean business.
Why do you wear BEL KAZAN? What piece are you loving right now?
I love the intersection of elegance, comfort, and whimsy. To me BEL KAZAN embodies this, the clothes are so fun, chic, and easy to wear. Lately I've been obsessed with Mona Belaro paired with a pair of perfectly tight Kaya pants and a little bralette (and a fat gold chain and my Prada heels of course)
Photos shot by Cameron McCall Jordan
Leave a comment
This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.