Caitlin McMillan
Lilah by CookNSolo Restaurants | Philadelphia
April 2024
Born in Philadelphia and raised in Florida, Caitlin McMillan eventually settled in North Carolina. As a teenager, she worked in sandwich shops around Waynesville, but didn’t see herself staying in the industry until her mom signed her up for culinary school. McMillan was hooked, and knew she wanted to pursue a career as a chef. After working in kitchens around Asheville, North Carolina, McMillan was eager for the next step in her career. Looking for something more fast-paced, but not quite ready to dive into the New York City culinary landscape, McMillan relocated to Philadelphia. She staged across the city until she landed at Steve Cook and Rising Stars alum Michael Solomonov’s Zahav in 2014, where she connected with the energy of the restaurant and its staff. She officially joined the team as a line cook and worked her way up to sous chef.
McMillan continued to work with the CookNSolo team, going on to help open the group’s hummus concept, Dizengoff, at Chelsea Market in New York City, and developing the menu for Rooster Soup Co. In 2018, McMillan accepted the executive chef position at Goldie, heading the team of the vegan falafel concept that has since expanded to five locations. Now, as culinary director of CookNSolo, McMillan has helped oversee the opening of their latest endeavor, Lilah, the group’s event space. With her vast culinary and leadership experiences, McMillan has implemented systems across the group to ensure her and her staff succeed, and has created an engaging, educational environment, all while pushing the CookNSolo concepts forward.
