Crista Luedtke is an American chef, restaurateur, hotelier, and television personality. She is known for her appearances on Food Network’s Guy’s Grocery Games, where she was crowned the first-ever Triple G Grand Champion in December 2015. The culinary entrepreneur owns multiple restaurants and hotels in Guerneville, California, and has been featured in Forbes, Food & Wine magazine, Condé Nast Traveler, The New York Times, and Sunset magazine.
Crista Luedtke Wikipedia
| Field | Details |
| Full name | Crista Luedtke |
| Gender | Female |
| Year of birth | 1973 |
| Age | 53 years old (as of 2026) |
| Place of birth | West Bend, Wisconsin, USA |
| Current residence | Guerneville, California, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Not publicly disclosed |
| Sexual orientation | Lesbian |
| Marital status | Single |
| Ex-spouse | Jill McCall (m. 2008–2010) |
| Children | None |
| Education | Arizona State University |
| Profession | Chef, restaurateur, hotelier, television personality |
| Net worth | Estimated $4-5 million |
| Social media |
Who is Crista Luedtke?
Crista Luedtke is a chef and serial entrepreneur who transformed the small town of Guerneville in Sonoma County, California, into a buzzing vacation destination.
She was born into the restaurant business at her parents’ German pub, Luedtke’s Bratskeller, in Wisconsin. The chef moved to San Francisco in 1999 at age 23, where she worked in biotech sales and later as a mortgage broker before leaving the corporate world in 2008.
She took a major career leap when she purchased a rundown resort in Guerneville for $1.2 million, using funds from selling her San Francisco home.
This became Boon Hotel + Spa, named after her dog. The chef has since built a hospitality empire that includes restaurants, hotels, and bars, playing a transformative role in revitalizing Guerneville’s main street.
How old is Crista Luedtke? Age and birthday
Crista Luedtke is 53 years old as of 2026. She was born in 1973 in West Bend, Wisconsin, USA. The chef grew up between Wisconsin and Arizona after her parents divorced.
She attended St. Frances Cabrini School in West Bend and was reportedly the first girl on the Little League team coached by John Rozek. Luedtke later attended Arizona State University.
Career
Early career
Crista grew up working in her parents’ restaurant, Luedtke’s Bratskeller, a German pub in Wisconsin. She moved to Scottsdale, Arizona, after her parents’ divorce and lived there until age 23.
After relocating to San Francisco in 1999, she worked in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry as a sales representative.
The chef transitioned into the mortgage brokerage business, working for First Capital Group in San Francisco.
She continued working as a mortgage broker even after opening her first hotel, commuting between the city and Guerneville for the first two years to ensure cash flow.
Hospitality empire
In April 2008, Luedtke purchased the former Retreat Resort in Guerneville and transformed it into Boon Hotel + Spa, a 14-room boutique hotel with a zen-like spa.
She sold her two-bedroom, one-bath San Francisco home for $1.15 million and invested around $1.2 million total, including approximately $100,000 on credit cards, to renovate the property with a minimalist, mid-century modern, Danish aesthetic.
A year later in 2009, she opened Boon Eat + Drink, a farm-to-table California bistro on Main Street in Guerneville. The restaurant features seasonal menus highlighting Sonoma County’s local bounty.
In July 2011, Luedtke co-founded Big Bottom Market, a gourmet deli and general store. The business gained national recognition when its biscuit mix was featured on Oprah’s Favorite Things in 2016. She sold her partnership share in January 2018.
The chef opened El Barrio, a modern Mexican craft cocktail lounge featuring bourbons, tequilas, and mezcals, in 2014. She sold the business to a friend in 2021.
In May 2019, she launched BROT, a contemporary German wursthaus and bierhalle that celebrated her heritage and honored her parents.
The restaurant closed in late 2023 and was transformed into Road Trip Kitchen in 2024, a global street-food concept. She sold Road Trip Kitchen to her two chefs from Boon Eat + Drink in September 2025.
In 2021, Luedtke expanded her hotel portfolio by purchasing Highlands Resort from Lynette and Ken McLean. The property, located on Armstrong Woods Road in Guerneville, underwent a full remodel completed in March 2023, featuring refined cabins in the woods.
Television career
Crista’s television career began in 2013 when she was invited to compete on Food Network’s Guy’s Grocery Games. She won her first episode and was invited back for a champions round.
She competed against 16 other champions and won the entire tournament, becoming the first-ever Triple G Grand Champion in December 2015. She earned $18,000 in a single day during that competition.
In January 2020, she won the Champion of DDD-GGG Super Teams competition on Guy’s Grocery Games. She now appears regularly on the show as both a fierce competitor and a culinary judge.
The chef has also appeared on Beat Bobby Flay (2013), Tournament of Champions (2020), and Wild Card Kitchen (2025).
In 2023, she starred in TasteBuds with Crista Luedtke, a culinary travel show that airs on ReachTV. The show follows her visiting chef friends across America to explore local food and culture.
She was also featured in the award-winning documentary Empire on Main Street, which premiered at film festivals in 2017 and chronicles her journey transforming Guerneville and the personal sacrifices involved.
Luedtke is featured on Lost in Taste, a food and travel docuseries on ReachTV where she travels to various countries exploring culture through food.
What is Crista Luedtke’s net worth?
As of 2026, Crista Luedtke’s net worth is estimated between $4 million and $5 million. She built this fortune through her multiple business ventures, including ownership of Boon Hotel + Spa, Highlands Resort, Boon Eat + Drink, and her partnerships in various restaurants.
Her income sources include hotel and restaurant revenues, television appearances on Food Network shows like Guy’s Grocery Games and Tournament of Champions, and prize winnings from culinary competitions. She won $18,000 in a single day during her Triple G Grand Championship win in 2015.
The chef sold her San Francisco home for $1.15 million in 2008 to fund her first hotel purchase. She has since sold several business partnerships, including Big Bottom Market in 2018, El Barrio in 2021, and Road Trip Kitchen in 2025.
Is Crista Luedtke married? Wife, relationship history
Crista Luedtke is not married as of 2026. She was previously married to Jill McCall from 2008 to 2010. The couple divorced after two years of marriage.
Luedtke and McCall purchased and renovated the Boon Hotel + Spa together, with Jill working alongside Crista during the early years of the business.
The chef has spoken about how her marriage ended due to her intense work schedule and entrepreneurial drive.
She shared in the documentary Empire on Main Street that she wanted to chase her dreams but questioned at what cost, noting that her wife was not interested in her “go, go, go ways.” Despite the divorce, Luedtke has stated they remain best friends.
After her divorce, Crista found a new partner who is supportive of her demanding career. She has mentioned that her current partner tells her, “Do what you need to do.
This is who you are, and this is what makes you so alive.” She lives in Guerneville, California, with her partner and their two dogs.
Luedtke does not have any children.
Social media presence
As of February 2026, Crista Luedtke has around 27,000 followers on Instagram (@chefcristaluedtke).
She uses the platform to share updates about her restaurants, hotels, television appearances, and travels.
Her Instagram bio describes her as “2x tournament champ/judge” for Guy’s Grocery Games on Food Network.
The chef posts content about culinary competitions, behind-the-scenes moments from her businesses, food photography, and personal adventures. Her account showcases her lifestyle as a chef, restaurateur, and television personality.
Fast facts about Crista Luedtke
- Crista was born into the restaurant business and grew up working at her parents’ German pub, Luedtke’s Bratskeller, in Wisconsin.
- She was the first girl on the Little League baseball team in West Bend, Wisconsin.
- The chef sold her San Francisco home and invested around $100,000 on credit cards to open her first hotel in 2008.
- Her brand name “Boon” comes from her dog’s name, which means “a gift or a blessing.”
- She was crowned Food Network’s first-ever Triple G Grand Champion on Guy’s Grocery Games in December 2015.
- Luedtke opened BROT in 2019 to honor her parents’ German restaurant heritage.
- She sleeps very little, with her partner calling her “super human” for her work ethic.
- The chef participated in South Beach Wine & Food Festival in Miami, Florida, in February 2026.
- She co-founded Big Bottom Market, which was featured on Oprah’s Favorite Things in 2016 for its biscuit mix.
- Luedtke owns two boutique hotels in Guerneville: Boon Hotel + Spa and Highlands Resort.
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Wrapping up
Crista Luedtke is a chef, restaurateur, and television personality who transformed her passion for hospitality into a thriving business empire in Guerneville, California.
From her roots in her parents’ Wisconsin restaurant to becoming Food Network’s first Triple G Grand Champion, she has built an impressive career.
The 53-year-old entrepreneur owns Boon Hotel + Spa, Highlands Resort, and Boon Eat + Drink, with an estimated net worth between $4 million and $5 million.
Following her divorce from Jill McCall in 2010, she found love again with a supportive partner who encourages her ambitious pursuits.
References
- Boon Eat + Drink. Chef Crista – Boon Eat + Drink – Guerneville.
- Visit California. Crista Luedtke Knows All of the Best Spots in Town.
- Forbes. Living The Dream: How This Woman Transformed A California Wine Country Town.
- SOBEWFF. Luedtke, Crista – SOBEWFF | February 19 – 22, 2026.
- Sonoma Magazine. Meet Crista Luedtke, The Visionary Behind Guerneville’s Revival.
- IMDb. Crista Luedtke.
- The Press Democrat. Owner of Guerneville restaurant sells eatery.
- Fast People Search. Crista Luedtke in Guerneville, CA.
- TUKO.co.ke. Who is Crista Luedtke married to after divorcing Jill McCall?.
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