Our Story

My passion for cooking began at a young age, playing with pots and pans at my grandmother’s feet while she cooked. She would start dinner early—often with a pot of spaghetti sauce simmering by late morning—and she showed her love through the meals she prepared. That same passion for feeding others was passed down to me. As a teenager, I spent countless hours experimenting in the kitchen, creating new dishes, and cooking for my entire family.

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In high school, I competed in national cooking competitions, earned multiple culinary scholarship awards, and went on to attend the Art Institute of Minneapolis’ culinary program. I later trained as a banquet chef under an American Culinary Federation Certified Executive Chef at the DoubleTree Hotel in Minneapolis, gaining invaluable experience in high‑volume, high‑standard culinary environments.

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After visiting friends and family in the Brainerd Lakes Area over the years, my wife of 13 years, our 9‑year‑old son, and I decided to make this community our permanent home in 2017.

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Whether you live here or are visiting for a special occasion, I truly believe food has the power to bring people together. I founded Up North Eats so you can focus on making memories with the people you care about—without the stress of planning, cooking, or cleanup. Every event we create is unique, and I personally work with each client to ensure their experience is one‑of‑a‑kind and exactly what they’ve envisioned.

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~Jesse Ruttger, Owner