CHEF-OWNED • FAMILY-BUILT • LOUISVILLE
The People Behind Every Plate
Exline Eats is the story of Chef Ken and Kathleen Exline—partners in life, hospitality, and the work of making important gatherings feel effortless.
WHERE THE STORY BEGINS
A shared table. A shared calling.
Long before Exline Eats became a catering company, Ken was the person who loved to cook, entertain, and find the dish that made people lean in for another bite. His instinct has always been personal: listen closely, understand the occasion, and make what the guest actually wants.
The turning point came during a trip to Las Vegas. Over coffee and a shared pastry, Ken looked across the table at Kathleen and said, “I’m going to culinary school.” What followed was persistence through the pandemic, a commitment to hands-on learning, and the beginning of a business built around real food and real connection.
“I’ll cook whatever the customer wants.”
CHEF KEN EXLINE
CHEF KEN EXLINE
Founder & Executive Chef
A DEFINING MOMENT
“I’m going to culinary school.”
A simple sentence over coffee became a new chapter for the Exlines—and the first step toward a catering company grounded in craft, adaptability, and care.
35 YEARS OF PARTNERSHIP
A family business in every sense.
Ken and Kathleen have spent more than three decades building a life together. Exline Eats brings their strengths to the same table: his creativity and hospitality, her judgment and organization, and a shared belief that people deserve to be answered, understood, and cared for.
CHEF KEN
Culinary vision & client connection
Ken listens for what matters—the flavors, the budget, the people in the room, and the feeling the host wants to create. Then he shapes the food and presentation around that conversation.
KATHLEEN EXLINE
Operations, details & the guest experience
Kathleen keeps the moving parts aligned—from finances and staffing to timing, setup, and presentation. Her steady leadership turns a menu into a well-run event and a plan into a worry-free moment.
THE EXLINE EATS PROMISE
Food made to fit the people in the room.
Exline Eats is not defined by one cuisine or one kind of event. The menu begins with the client—what they love, what they can spend, how they want guests to feel, and what will work beautifully in the space.
That flexibility never comes at the expense of integrity. Ingredients are chosen with purpose, presentation is treated as part of the experience, and communication stays clear from the first inquiry through the final plate.
WHAT HOSPITALITY MEANS HERE
Personal from the first conversation to the final plate.
Listen first
Every plan begins with the occasion, the guests, the priorities, and the budget.
Cook with integrity
Food is prepared with purpose, practical skill, and respect for how it will travel and serve.
Present with care
The table should catch the eye before the first bite and feel cohesive with the gathering.
Stay responsive
Questions are answered, changes are discussed, and clients always know the next step.
IN A CLIENT’S WORDS
“Like a warm hug.”
That is how one client described the Exline Eats experience—and it captures exactly what Ken and Kathleen work to create: food that feels generous, service that feels personal, and a gathering people remember.
REAL GATHERINGS. REAL CARE.
From intimate celebrations to rooms full of guests.
Weddings, corporate open houses, baby showers, pool parties, milestone birthdays, reunions, and community events—each one is approached as its own moment, not a repeatable template.
BEGIN WITH A CONVERSATION
Let’s make your gathering feel like you.
Share your date, location, guest count, budget, and the experience you want to create. Chef Ken will help you find the right next step.