Born and raised in the Chatham Community of Chicago, Illinois, Judson Todd Allen was introduced to flavorful foods at a very young age. His grandfather, who he was named after, ignited this insatiable thirst of “all things food” in him. Growing up in Louisiana, Judson’s grandfather’s Creole traditions and style of cooking influenced his culinary point of view today. From the weekend fishing excursions to the anticipated holiday family feasts, it was clear that Judson was IN LOVE with great cuisine. This love for food, led him to attend the only urban agricultural high school in the city of Chicago, “The Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences”, where he majored in Food Science. Faced with the decision of whether to pursue culinary school or take a non-traditional route, Judson chose to continue his studies in Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. Always striving to be different, Judson found himself intrigued by the science behind foods and how flavors seamlessly worked together.