Chef/owner of Boon Eat + drink and Road Trip Kitchen; Proprietor/visionary of Boon Hotel + Spa and Highlands Resort

Crista Luedtke is a true visionary force with fiery energy. Coming from solid Midwest roots, she was born into her parent’s restaurant and the rest is history. In 2007 she left behind a successful corporate career in San Francisco to resume a life in the hospitality industry. Her journey began when she took ownership + renovated a struggling resort, opening a modern 14-room boutique hotel with a zen-like spa, known as boon hotel + spa. That was just the beginning…

The continued nagging urge to open her own restaurant, led her to follow her passion of cooking, tapping her culinary upbringing. She established boon eat + drink restaurant in 2009 to much success. And from there over 5 more culinary concepts emerged and have been brought to life under her vision. Crista learned the art of cooking at a very early age through her incredibly talented mother; and her skills in restaurant + hospitality management in the years that followed. Crista grew up in both the front and back of the house in family restaurants doing everything from waiting tables to cooking on the line. She is passionate about seasonal ingredients and uses her two gardens at boon to inspire her menus.

If it’s one thing we know, Crista is never without a new creative vision. Her career has been largely about honoring the people and places she loves. Travel inspires so much of what she brings to life in all her concepts.

She was crowned as the Food Network’s first ever Triple G Grand Champion in December 2015, and Champion of DDD- GGG Super Teams in January 2020 on Guy’s Grocery Games. She continues to be a regular on Food Network as both a fierce competitor and culinary judge. She is currently featured on a food and travel concept docuseries, called ‘Lost in Taste’ and her newest show ‘Tastes Buds’, which air on ReachTV, and... She was featured in a documentary short film called ‘Empire on Main Street’, that won many awards on the Film Festival circuit, including “Best Documentary Short” at the Emerging Filmmaker Showcase at the American Pavilion in Cannes, France.

In 2021, Crista partnered with Christian Strobel, of Strobel Development, to re-position and bring new life to the beloved Highlands Resort, another boutique hotel in the Russian River area. The dynamic duo completed a full remodel in March 2023 featuring refined cabins in the woods with a rustic adult summer camp vibe.

Crista has been the force behind the design and branding of all her concepts. Nothing makes her happier than connecting with people through food and beverage and creating lasting experiences. She lives with her forever patient, and supportive partner, and their senior rescue dogs.