Founded in 2015, Lavish Roots Catering is a Certified Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) established by Carly Duke, Ann Lamb, Brandon LaVielle, and Evan Garrard. The trio initially met while attending South Seattle College’s Culinary Arts Program, and Ann later joined the team to form their successful partnership.
‘Delivering an Impact in the Lives of Our Guests.’
From a commissary kitchen in West Seattle, we’ve come a long way to building a state-of-the-art kitchen and training facility in Burien, Washington. Our goal has always been to create a unique company culture that treats our team with respect, recognizing their professionalism, and delivering world-class hospitality to our guests. We’re proud of what we’ve built, and we’re excited to continue innovating in the culinary and hospitality world.
“It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership” ~Nelson Mandela
Carly Duke
President
Ann Lamb
Vice President
Brandon LaVielle, CEC, AAC
Director of Culinary
Evan Garrard
Executive Chef
Carly Duke | President
Carly is the President, Founder, and visionary behind Lavish Roots. A classically trained culinarian with over two decades of leadership, she has grown Lavish Roots from a single commissary to a thriving, multi-site organization rooted in culinary innovation and inclusive leadership.
Carly blends bold creativity with operational focus, guiding initiatives that uplift diverse teams and deliver exceptional guest experiences.
Her people-first approach and deep understanding of food service culture position her as a strategic partner for client engagements centered on impact and community.
Ann Lamb | Vice President
Ann , a co-founder of Lavish Roots, serves as Vice President and a guiding voice in organizational culture. With a background in Culinary Arts and a certification in Team Member Resources, Ann leads initiatives that promote inclusion, psychological safety, and team connection.
Her journey from kitchen operations to people leadership gives her a unique vantage point—bridging craft with care.
Ann’s influence ensures that high performance and team wellbeing go hand in hand, particularly for clients who value equity and collaborative success.
Brandon LaVielle, CEC, AAC | Director of Culinary
With over 20 years in food and hospitality, ten of which have come at Lavish Roots, Chef Brandon serves as Executive Chef and Partner at Lavish Roots. He earned his Certified Executive Chef designation in 2017 and was inducted into the American Academy of Chefs in 2023. Brandon oversees culinary operations, contract management, food safety, and recruitment.
As President of the Washington State Chefs Association and Coordinator of the state’s Chef Apprentice Program, he champions professional development.
Brandon leads with a commitment to culture-building and operational excellence—making him an ideal asset for client programs focused on both quality and long-term growth.
Evan Garrard | Executive Chef
Chef Evan is a classically trained chef with over 20 years in the culinary industry. A graduate of South Seattle Community College’s award-winning culinary program, Evan has experience ranging from small family-owned kitchens to large-scale fine dining and catering operations.
As Executive Chef & Partner, he specializes in procurement, recipe development, and R&D, supporting menu innovation across diverse client needs.
Evan’s leadership blends creativity with systems thinking, ensuring that every dish reflects both quality and intention. His collaborative approach and deep culinary knowledge anchor consistent excellence across Lavish Roots’ food programs.
“Wow! I have always known Lavish Roots to provide top-notch food to their clients, but I wasn’t expecting a curbside pick up to be that gourmet! It was so much fun looking in the bag of food because they were all these special treats that kept coming out! Your fine touches on everything that was included made us smile. I especially love that everything is real food! I really loved your personalized note too! We will definitely be ordering again. We have a young family and this is seriously saving us! We so appreciate you and your hard work. The food was so yummy and I’m sad that we already ate it all! Good job team LR!!!!”
- K.J.
“The meal was delicious and ample. It felt like a fine dining meal, but at home. Everything was packaged nicely and ready at the time selected, The signed thank you card by Chef and staff was classy and the unexpected gifts are much appreciated, Thank you!”
- C.L.
“Delicious meal enjoyed by the family. We especially appreciated all the extra details and thoughtful touch that went into the preparation and presentation. Excellent quality and service.”
K.H.
“Really, really good meal. No problems with anything – order, delivery, packaging, preparation, food quality etc. This is a 6 Star Meal.”
M.J.B.
At Lavish Roots, we believe in giving back to the communities where we operate. That’s why we’re committed to supporting organizations that share our core values of Family, Passion, Loyalty, and Adventure. If your organization is looking for support, we encourage you to reach out to us at info@lavishroots.com. We’re always looking for ways to make a positive impact in the world, and we’re excited to partner with like-minded organizations to achieve our shared goals.