Tanorria Askew 

Tanorria Askew of Tanorria’s Table is a passionate home cook turned Chef. She is the proud owner of Tanorria’s Table where she works as a personal chef and tv personality. Tanorria has a keen sense of flavor and prides herself in making everything she cooks memorable. With her cooking roots originating from Tennessee, Tanorria has fun putting a modern spin on American Comfort Food.

Her culinary credentials are simple.  She comes from the “Culinary Institute of Her Parents & Grandparents”. Born in Chattanooga, TN, and raised in Indianapolis, IN, she traveled to be with family a lot. There was never a time where her family came together without an amazing home-cooked meal. Growing up her family was always the family who did the entertaining and the cooking. She got to witness, first hand, how food can show love, compassion, unity, and fun. 

A 2016 contestant on MasterChef hosted by Gordon Ramsay, Tanorria walked away as the 4th best home cook in America. Tanorria won over producers, judges, and America with her southern culinary roots and sassy personality. Gordon Ramsay donned her shrimp and grits as the best shrimp and grits he’s ever had in the MasterChef kitchen!  

Tanorria spent 15 years at Teachers Credit Union (TCU) before leaving to follow her culinary dreams.  During that time, she worked her way through the ranks from Sales Representative, Member Service Representative, Assistant Manager, and Training and Organizational Development Specialist. Tanorria was the champion and practitioner for TCU's Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Initiative; leading the charge in winning the Indianapolis Mayor’s Celebration of Diversity Award. She blended her passion for cooking and her passion for D&I to create Unity Tables, a safe space for women of different races, cultures, and backgrounds to sit around a dinner table and share their heart as a way to create unity. 

Since leaving TCU, Tanorria’s has had the privilege of speaking to audiences as a Keynote speaker, Emcee, and Panelist about her significant career shift, anti-racism, diversity and inclusion, social justice, and the courage it takes to chase dreams.  She also serves as the D&I Chairperson of the board for a non-profit called Slow Food Indy.A seat at Tanorria’s Table will nourish your body with food and your soul with justice. Above all, Tanorria encourages everyone to love deeply, laugh often, and eat well. 

Have a Seat at Tanorria’s Table!