Dominique Leach

Dominique Leach is the owner and chef of Lexington Betty's Smokehouse in Chicago. She has been featured on food television programs, including Chopped, Fire Masters, and BBQ Brawl.

Biography Leach was born in Chicago and grew up in Humboldt Park by a single mother. While her mother did not have much time to cook, Leach experienced her grandmother's cooking during twice-annual visits. Her grandmother, Betty King, was from Lexington, Missouri, inspiring the name of the restaurant.

After graduating from high school at sixteen, Leach attended culinary school at the Illinois Institute of Art – Chicago, graduating in 2006.

In 2008, Leach went to work at the Art Institute of Chicago, where she worked with Raghavan Iyer. She was invited to work with Mantuano at the pop-up restaurant at the US Open, where she was offered a role in banquets at Spiaggia. Griffin left her career to help Leach rebuild, and friends and family supported the couple as they moved from their homes at the police's recommendation. In 2022, they opened a South Side location. She also opened a product line selling Wagyu hot dog franks. 2023: BBQ Brawl, contestant, winner ("Master of Cue")