From Family Kitchen to Culinary Studio
In 2015, Chef Kaiya Monroe transformed her lifelong passion for Southern cooking into Chef Southern E. What began as weekend dinner parties for friends quickly evolved into a full-fledged culinary service dedicated to bringing the warmth and richness of Southern hospitality to tables across Kentucky.
Growing up in a family where Sunday dinners were sacred traditions, Kaiya learned that food is more than sustenance—it's connection, memory, and love made tangible. Her grandmother's cast-iron skillet and grandfather's garden-fresh vegetables became the foundation of her culinary philosophy.
After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America and working in some of the country's finest kitchens, Kaiya returned to her Kentucky roots with a mission: to elevate Southern cuisine while honoring its humble, heartfelt origins.
