Casey Thompson (born January 21, 1978) is an American chef and restaurateur from Dallas, Texas. Between 2020 and 2024, she was the executive chef at Folktable, a restaurant in Sonoma, California. In 2025, she became the consultant chef at Duchess, a restaurant at the New Nobleman Hotel in Fort Worth, Texas.
Thompson was a contestant on Top Chef: Miami, the third season of the television series Top Chef, in which she finished as runner-up and was voted Fan Favorite. She also appeared in Top Chef: All-Stars (season 8) and Top Chef: Charleston (season 14), and was a guest judge in episode 7 of Top Chef Junior.Casey Thompson – BravoTV
Career Thompson's professional start came at Dallas' The Mansion Restaurant, at Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, under head chef Dean Fearing,"Quizzing Brownstone's Casey Thompson On her Idols, Dead Trends and her Last Meal" – Dallas Observer, November 18, 2010 where she worked her way up from a prep cook to becoming the sous chef. She later became executive chef at Shinsei, a Pan-Asian restaurant in Dallas.
Thompson was formerly executive chef at Brownstone in Fort Worth, Texas,"17 Stellar Female Chefs Share What Advice They’d Give To Their Younger Selves" – Forbes, March 18, 2020 and, between June and November 2014, the owner of Aveline at the Warwick Hotel in San Francisco, which she named after her grandmothers."A ‘Top Chef’ Alum Puts A Texan Twist On California Cuisine" – Forbes Travel Guide, September 17, 2014"Review: San Francisco’s Aveline, unparalleled California cuisine" – The Mercury News, August 7, 2014"Casey Thompson Out at Aveline" – Eater San Francisco, November 11, 2014
In 2017, Thompson became executive chef at Morada, the restaurant at The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe."Top Chef to bring new tastes, look to The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe’s Morada" – Rancho Santa Fe Review, January 4, 2017
She was due to open Georgette as a partner in late 2020, but it was put on hold due to COVID-19."Celebrity Chef Opens Take Out Restaurant at Cornerstone Sonoma – SonomaCounty.com
Thompson is a spokesperson for Terrazas de los Andes, a Moet-Hennessey brand.
Folktable
Between December 2020 and November 2024, Thompson was the executive chef at Folktable,Casey Thompson – Folktable a restaurant at Cornerstone Sonoma marketplace in Sonoma, California."New restaurant coming to Cornerstone Sonoma" – Sonoma Index-Tribune, August 28, 2020"Harvest dinners, books and brews on tap for early September" – The Press Democrat, August 24, 2021
In September 2021, just over a year into Thompson's time at the restaurant, it was named a Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand establishment.2021 California New MICHELIN Bib Gourmands – Michelin Guide It retained the accolade in 2022 and 2023.
The restaurant closed in 2024, after four years in business."A 'Top Chef' Star's Wine Country Restaurant is Closing" – San Francisco Chronicle, November 4, 2024
In 2025, Thompson became the consultant chef at Duchess, a restaurant at the New Nobleman Hotel in Fort Worth, Texas.
Personal life Thompson has been married to Michael DeSantis, co-owner of Harumph Wines, – Newport Beach Wine and Food since 2008.
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