Coated in flour for as long as he can remember, Chef Chris Teixeira is the Food & Beverage Director and Partner for The Fifty/50 Group. Born in Portugal and raised in Boston, he now calls Chicago home and is the operational and creative force behind the food & beverage programs at the group’s various establishments, including West Town Bakery and Kindling. In projects where outside culinary talent is engaged to helm the kitchen, Chris helps assemble the teams and set up systems to ensure that regardless of whose name is on the door, the kitchen maintains the operational effectiveness and efficiencies that the Fifty/50 Group is known for.

Teixeira’s passion for baking started early, influenced by his mother who worked at the same bakery for 25 years. This passion led him to the Culinary Institute of America, where he earned degrees in Baking & Pastry Arts and Hospitality Management. He later honed his skills as a Pastry Chef de Partie at the four-star Chicago dining landmark, Sixteen at Trump International Hotel & Tower.

Teixeira has garnered significant industry recognition. He was named one of the “Under-the-Radar Pastry Chefs You Ought to Know” by the Chicago Tribune, included on Zagat’s “30 Under 30” list, and was a 2015 James Beard semifinalist for “Rising Star Chef of the Year.” He is also a Certified Master Baker, a Certified Executive Pastry Chef, and a World Certified Pastry Chef.

In addition to his work with The Fifty/50 Group, Teixeira has made multiple appearances on the Food Network, including competing on Beat Bobby Flay and appearing on Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking in 2024. He also co-hosts the “Chef May I” podcast alongside Chef Christo Vlahos. When he’s not in the kitchen, Teixeira is involved in giving back to the culinary world through organizations like the Edward Lee Foundation, World Central Kitchen, and the Retail Bakers of America.