Stephen Ewen, AGC, M.Ed, CFPM,
Founder & Executive Chef, Northwoods Catering

Globally traveled, Chef Stephen believes food is more than a meal—it’s an experience, a story, and perhaps the deepest way humans have forged bonds across time and place. Trained in fine-dining from the very start, his culinary journey began in his teens, scrubbing pots in bustling kitchens before quickly rising through the ranks—chef de partie by seventeen and sous chef by nineteen. Alongside his star-level fine-dining background, he also mastered ethic cuisines that span the globe, as well as outdoorsman-style cuisine that celebrates open-fire cooking and the often wild, seasonal ingredients unique to the U.S. Northwest.

Driven by a passion for people and culture, Stephen later pursued linguistic anthropology, spending two decades teaching language and culture across the U.S. and abroad. Ultimately, he returned to his first love—founding Northwoods Catering, where he now designs custom, boutique dining experiences that are deeply personal, immersive, and unforgettable.

Outside the kitchen, Stephen is a lifelong educator, musician, stage-actor, stand-up comic, therapy-dog trainer, and the author of the upcoming humor book The Corgi Chronicles, inspired by Maddie, his rescued corgi and “chief taste tester.”