About Chef Chris Thompson
Chef always felt at home in the kitchen. Growing up in Telluride, he was surrounded by renowned chefs passing through, giving him his first taste of culinary mastery. Shaped by this early exposure to the food world—and perhaps the unforgettable "jaffles" at the Deli Downstairs (if you know, you know), he caught the culinary bug and left home, driven by an insatiable thirst for knowledge. He always knew he would return to Telluride; it was just a matter of when.
His culinary journey began in the mountain town and took him through the kitchens of Los Angeles, San Francisco, and later Chicago, where every city left its mark, and the diverse food scenes expanded his perspective. At the same time, trips to France, Italy, and Croatia inspired the Mediterranean influence behind The National and sparked a fascination with culinary storytelling.
While at Michelin-starred Spruce in San Francisco, he refined his approach to coastal cooking and studied Mediterranean flavors while working with Chef Mark Sullivan. Then to Chicago, he made his mark as Executive Chef at Lardon, a restaurant known for its French-influenced menu and house-cured salumi, earned a coveted Michelin’s Bib Gourmand twice.
About Kate Thompson
Kate brings her own impressive background in hospitality to the table. Her experience ranges from working in both free-standing and hotel restaurants for locations such as Spruce in San Francisco, Hotel Teatro in Denver, and Momotaro in Chicago. After joining Ballyhoo Hospitality, she continued to grow with the company and, most recently, was the Director of Operations, overseeing the openings and operations at one of the fastest-growing restaurant groups in the Chicagoland area as Ballyhoo Hospitality flourished.
With over 40 years of combined experience in the industry, the husband-wife hospitality duo are following their passions together to open The National Telluride and bring a fresh take on elevated yet approachable dining to the mountains.
At Home in Telluride
For Chris, no matter where his journey has taken him, Telluride — the place where he and his wife/co-owner, Kate Thompson, are now raising their twins has always been home, and welcomed The National with open arms.
Experience the journey behind every one of Chef Chris’ dishes, and join us at The National.
