Our Team

Born on a naval base in Virginia, Chef Annie credits her culinary diversity to living all over the U.S. – sampling it’s food from Rhode Island to California and even Hawaii.

She made her way to Knoxville in 1999 on a softball scholarship to play for the Lady Vols while pursuing her degree in fine art. During her time at UT, Annie worked as a server at several Knoxville locations. Her passion for food was established at a local seafood restaurant where she took on her first back-of-house roles as fish monger, prep, and sauté cook.

In 2018, Annie accepted an offer from Aaron Smith, General Manager at Cazzy’s Corner Grill under the mentorship of the late, great restaurateur, Rob Goebel. This is when Annie really began to refine her craft and form a fervent connection to food.

Now, as Executive Chef, Annie embraces the challenge of creating dishes for folks committed to healthy eating – advocating for fresh, authentic cuisine. With her background as an award-winning athlete, artist, and now chef, Chef Annie offers spirited leadership, dynamic vision, and palpable creativity to the Cazzy’s family.

In her personal time, Chef Annie enjoys eating her way through various cities, boating at the lake, spending time with her pups Eggs and Gumbo, and cooking for family and friends.