meet chef stephen kalil

Chef Stephen is the executive chef for PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay division, based in Plano, Texas. In this role, he leads and inspires product development for Frito-Lay various snack brands through the application of Culinology -- the blending of culinary arts and food science with technology. He currently runs the recently-opened Culinary Science Center at Frito-Lay’s headquarters.

Prior to joining Frito-Lay, Chef Stephen served as director of innovation for Chili’s Grill & Bar’s Food and Beverage Innovation division. He also served as chef de cuisine for Culinary Research and Development at The Cheesecake Factory. In these roles, he led ongoing menu innovation including recipe development, market testing, flavor optimization and implementation in the restaurants.

His introduction to the world of cooking and foodservice came as a teenager in Detroit through his family’s business, which grew from a small bakery and market specializing in Mediterranean foods to a highly-successful multi-faceted restaurant, grocery retail and wholesale operation.

Chef Stephen is a Certified Executive Chef with the American Culinary Federation and a Certified Research Chef with the Research Chefs Association. He has been featured on the Food Network’s “Unwrapped” show and is regularly featured in industry publications such as Culinology, Flavor and the Menu and Prepared Foods.