Growing up in Greenville, SC, Charlie McKenna learned very early on about the art of true Southern BBQ. Grandma Lillie made sure of it. After attending Florida State University, McKenna graduated from New York’s Culinary Institute of America in 2000. He then cooked under legendary chef Norman Van Aken in Florida, before becoming a sous chef at two of Chicago’s four-star fine-dining landmarks: Tru and Avenues in The Peninsula Hotel.
Chef Charlie McKenna opened the flagship Lillie’s Q restaurant in July 2010 in Chicago, named for his Grandmother Lillie, who taught him the art of southern cooking back home in Greenville, SC. The goal was simple: Create a Southern-inspired BBQ experience that’s true to regional traditions and reimagined into unique, authentic and delicious flavors.
And he hasn’t slowed down since.
Since opening, McKenna and Lillie’s Q have garnered critical praise and awards from both local Chicago and national media – including being named “Best New BBQ Restaurant in the Country” by Food & Wine magazine. McKenna later opened additional locations in Chicago, Florida, and California.
2X WORLD BARBEQUE CHAMPION
ABOUT CHARLIE
Growing up in Greenville, SC, Charlie McKenna learned very early on about the art of true Southern BBQ. Grandma Lillie made sure of it. After attending Florida State University, McKenna graduated from New York’s Culinary Institute of America in 2000. He then cooked under legendary chef Norman Van Aken in Florida, before becoming a sous chef at two of Chicago’s four-star fine-dining landmarks: Tru and Avenues in The Peninsula Hotel.
Chef Charlie McKenna opened the flagship Lillie’s Q restaurant in July 2010 in Chicago, named for his Grandmother Lillie, who taught him the art of southern cooking back home in Greenville, SC. The goal was simple: Create a Southern-inspired BBQ experience that’s true to regional traditions and reimagined into unique, authentic and delicious flavors.
And he hasn’t slowed down since.
Since opening, McKenna and Lillie’s Q have garnered critical praise and awards from both local Chicago and national media – including being named “Best New BBQ Restaurant in the Country” by Food & Wine magazine. McKenna later opened additional locations in Chicago, Florida, and California.
2X WORLD BARBEQUE CHAMPION
ABOUT CHARLIE
Food & Wine Magazine
BEST NEW BBQ
Memphis In May World Champion
2X BBQ
CHAMPION
But Trained Classically at The CIA NY
SOUTHERN
ROOTS
Lillie’s Q Restaurants, Sauces & Rubs
FOUNDER
CREATOR
McKenna has traveled across the U.S. and Australia for food, wine, and entertainment events including SXSW in Austin, South Beach Wine & Food Festival in Miami, Meatstock in Melbourne, The Masters in Augusta, Holy Smoke in Sweden, and cooking at the James Beard House in New York.
He has been a guest on countless national media outlets such as The Rachael Ray Show, Windy City Live, and Rick Bayless’ Feed Podcast. He has cooked for both large scale and intimate private events for numerous global brands, celebrities, and athletes.
PAST EVENTS + COLLABORATIONS
McKenna has traveled across the U.S. and Australia for food, wine, and entertainment events including SXSW in Austin, South Beach Wine & Food Festival in Miami, Meatstock in Melbourne, The Masters in Augusta, Holy Smoke in Sweden, and cooking at the James Beard House in New York.
He has been a guest on countless national media outlets such as The Rachael Ray Show, Windy City Live, and Rick Bayless’ Feed Podcast. He has cooked for both large scale and intimate private events for numerous global brands, celebrities, and athletes.
PAST EVENTS + COLLABORATIONS
As he continued to travel the BBQ competition circuit won numerous awards including two first place wins at Memphis In May in 2007 and 2016 – which is widely regarded as the world championship of BBQ. It was during these competitions frrom Memphis to Alabama and the Carolinas, he created a Lillie’s Q sauce unique to each region along the way.
He soon after started serving those same regional sauces in the restaurant along with bottling them to meet the demand of local retailers.
Lillie’s Q Sauces & Rubs is now a nationally and internationally recognized brand with distribution in over 15,000 stores across the country and in Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
lillie's q sauces and rubs
FOUNDER / CREATOR
SHOP NOW
As he continued to travel the BBQ competition circuit won numerous awards including two first place wins at Memphis In May in 2007 and 2016 – which is widely regarded as the world championship of BBQ. It was during these competitions frrom Memphis to Alabama and the Carolinas, he created a Lillie’s Q sauce unique to each region along the way.
He soon after started serving those same regional sauces in the restaurant along with bottling them to meet the demand of local retailers.
Lillie’s Q Sauces & Rubs is now a nationally and internationally recognized brand with distribution in over 15,000 stores across the country and in Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
lillie's q sauces and rubs
FOUNDER / CREATOR
SHOP NOW
