Paul Penney

Co-Director of our Charitable Foundation

Call Chef Paul and Aussie in the Kitchen PCS
S.E. Michigan

Mixing Australian wit and charm with an entrepreneurial flair, Chef Paul Penney has become a prominent fixture in Michigan’s culinary circles. After serving many years as the President of a high tech company, Chef Paul swapped out his tie for a toque in 2001 to launch Aussie in the Kitchen personal chef service.

In 2002 Southern Shows, Inc. turned to Chef Paul to manage the stage of the Women’s Expo in Novi, MI. His role soon expanded to include shows in Memphis, Greensboro, Charlotte, Raleigh, Birmingham, West Palm Beach, Jacksonville and Orlando. In addition to working with the talent at the shows, Chef Paul conducted onstage demonstrations for various sponsors.

Locally, Chef Paul appears throughout Michigan conducting cooking demonstrations for food store giant, Meijer. He also conducts store appearances on behalf of the “Select Michigan” program and the Michigan Apple commission at other locations throughout the state.

He has appeared at many other shows in the Detroit, Grand Rapids, Flint and Saginaw areas. He is a presenter and teacher for Health Alliance Plan (HAP), a SE Michigan HMO doing worksite Lunch and Learn cooking programs and HealthPlus, another Michigan HMO in the Flint / Saginaw area.

He has appeared on numerous TV segments throughout the US for his clients and is currently a regular on the Fox 2 Detroit morning show on a segment called “This for that” with Dena Centafani where healthy alternative recipes are demonstrated.

Born in Adelaide, South Australia, Chef Paul will soon turn his family recipes and memories into his first cookbook, entitled “Jak’s Café” which will also include recipes from chef friends who have inspired him in his cooking adventures.

He is serving on the board of two organizations including Personal Chef Co-operative and Slow Foods Detroit.

Chef Paul’s formal training includes the famed Le Cordon Bleu in Ottawa, Canada, the U.S. Personal Chef Institute in Phoenix, AZ, and many other culinary classes and workshops around the country and abroad. He lives in S.E. Michigan with his wife Sandy and daughter Emma.