Chris Ford

Classically trained at Le Cordon Bleu, Chris Ford has worked with, and learned from great chefs including Chika Tillman, Thomas Keller and Michael Mina throughout his 15 years of experience - mastering his craft and gaining an appreciation for pushing boundaries in search of the extraordinary.

Originally from Florida, Chef Norman Van Aken gave Ford his first job - Norman’s at the Ritz-Carlton Orlando where he learned the fundamentals of a fine-dining kitchen. He went on to be the sous-chef of New York’s ChikaLicious, the acclaimed dessert bar famous for its long lines and rave-worthy sweets, and then to open Trummer’s on Main at the Clifton Hotel in Virginia where he was named a “Rising Star Pastry Chef” by Starchefs.

In 2011, Ford joined the Four Seasons brand as executive pastry chef at the brand-new Harbor East Baltimore hotel where he oversaw five pastry programs, including Michael Mina hotspot Wit & Wisdom.

By the time Ford began working with Thomas Keller at the West Coast outpost of the famed Bouchon, he had been named Food & Wine’s “People’s Best New Pastry Chef,” Tasting Table’s “Best Pastry Chef”, and appeared on Zagat’s ‘30 Under 30” list in Los Angeles.

Ford returned to the East Coast to helm the Bryan Voltaggio empire in D.C as Corporate Pastry Chef until 2016 when he returned to California to become the Executive Pastry Chef at the famed Rodeo Drive property Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel, and later at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles. 

Now, Ford is all-in on his own brand, ButterLove&Hardwork. Famous for decadent visuals and innovative flavor palettes, ButterLove&Hardwork boasts a client roster that includes Madonna, Kim Kardashian, John Legend, Colton Hayes, HBO, Universal Pictures, Louis Vuitton, Amazon, Netflix, and more.

Ford recently announced an exclusive partnership with the leading specialty retailer of high-quality products for the kitchen and home, Williams Sonoma, on a special holiday line of his famous chocolate breakables that ships nationwide.  

As we head into 2021, Ford will continue to make life just a little sweeter, if even for a moment, when he launches his very own custom baking chocolate line.