Key Winstead was raised in the rural town of Roxboro, North Carolina, on his family’s 180-acre farm. Since the early 1800s, his family has had a tradition of hosting weekly gatherings for family and friends at the Winstead Farm. During Key’s childhood, these events were organized and run by his beloved grandmother, Nannie. A prize-winning cook and pillar of the community, Nannie taught her children and grandchildren by example, creating a warm and hospitable environment for all to enjoy. Key embraced this tradition of farm-to-table cooking and Southern hospitality, learning that the gifts of good cooking and beautiful surroundings are some of the best ways to show love and care for others.

Key studied Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island before working as a private chef for several prestigious families in Boston, Massachusetts and Hyde Park, New York.  He has worked more than 25 years in all aspects of the New York City culinary industry: as a director for several large catering companies, the catering director for Dean & Deluca during the launch of their first Broadway store, and CEO of Winstead Caterers since 1999. In 2002, Key helped begin a movement to bring premium, farm-to-table catering services to several of New York City’s prestigious independent grade schools. Now his school catering division, A Grade Above, promotes and serves food that is organic and appealing to children’s palates.