Welcome to Chef Shenanigans! Shane Witters Hicks (the “Shananigan”) is a dedicated chef with a passion for plant-based cuisine. After patiently studying and working his way up the ladder of the culinary industry, he now enjoys feeding his community and inspiring audiences as a personal chef and culinary instructor. Shane’s experience ranges from cooking in establishments that vary from casual to fine-dining, solo-operating buffets, teaching online and in-person cooking classes, working in research & development for a plant-based protein company, and serving families as a personal chef.
Shane began his culinary career at a popular vegan café in Boulder, CO. While receiving level 4 certification with the Vegan Fusion Academy and instruction from online plant-based courses, he enjoyed empowering Boulder locals to make tasty, plant-based dishes at home. Shane hosted culinary demonstrations and instructed numerous plant-based cooking classes for the public in addition to teaching as a Chef Instructor at the recreational culinary school, Food Lab.
Shane also crafted recipes for local companies and cooked at an elegant buffet in Boulder while refining his education at the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, where he obtained a degree in culinary arts and taught several cooking classes as an adjunct faculty. After graduating, he enjoyed operating a meal-delivery service for Boulder families alongside baking sourdough for a local farm-to-table restaurant. During the pandemic, he shifted his in-person cooking classes to an online format. When he felt it was time to hone his skills in other areas, he moved to St. Louis, MO, where Shane worked as a culinary specialist for Hungry Planet Foods. He worked in R&D, crafted plant-based meats from scratch, and developed & styled recipes for the company. Today, Shane is thrilled to channel his experience toward feeding and educating locals as a personal chef and culinary instructor. Click these links to learn more about private chef and cooking class services offered.
As a runner and adventurer, Shane strives to create dishes that are as wholesome as they are satisfying. Life is about balance and he loves to whip up plant-based versions of fried chicken, crunchwrap supremes, mac n cheese, and other fast, “junky” food as much as he enjoys crafting more refined fare (think Coq au Vin, Eggplant Parmesan, whole roasted cauliflower, and other veggie-forward entrees that burst with flavor).
Shane believes whole-heartedly in the power of a plant-based lifestyle to transform lives and the face of the planet. He seeks to inspire audiences to discover the richness and culinary creativity involved in plant-based cuisine, more joy in the kitchen, more optimal wellness, and more alignment with their own values of compassion.
Shane wants to share his love of cooking with you! Feel free to learn more about his private chef services, join him for a personalized virtual cooking class, or simply pick up a new recipe or two at his blog!
