Kelsey is Pastry Chef and Partner at The Dutchess, an all-day bakery, cafe, and Burmese-Indian restaurant located in the heart of downtown Ojai. Each morning, diners will find the eight-foot-long pastry case piled high with organic sourdough breads, cakes, pastries, and croissants which are inspired by the bounty of Ventura County’s exceptional produce. By night, guests round out Executive Chef and Partner Saw Naing’s flavorful, inventive Burmese-Californian fare with her play on South Asian-influenced desserts. The Dutchess has earned much critical acclaim, including a spot on Bill Addison’s 101 Best Restaurants in California list in 2025.

Prior to The Dutchess, Kelsey cut her teeth moving up the ranks and overseeing bakeries such as Tartine, Huckleberry, and Milo & Olive. She prides herself on using her platform to support and celebrate local, sustainable agriculture, farmers, and millers within the community, minimizing food waste throughout the restaurant in an effort to create a closed-loop system, and regularly participating in non-profit bake sales to combat food insecurity and support social justice causes she believes in.

PARTICIPATING EVENTS:

Sunday Grand Tasting at The Farmhouse