Haley McKinney is the Chef de Cuisine of Leo at Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center. Their cooking is shaped as much by memory as it is by technique, drawing a direct line between the landscapes of southwest Missouri and the dining room in the heart of Philadelphia.
 

Raised among gardens, lakes, and the traditions of hunting and fishing, Haley learned that food was an expression of care. Their father—a Marine and accomplished fisherman—filled the family table with deer, crappie, garden vegetables, and long Sunday breakfasts. Those experiences continue to guide Haley’s approach to cooking.
 

At Leo, Haley translates those memories through contemporary technique and subtle Japanese influence, allowing exceptional ingredients to speak for themselves. Every dish begins with a memory, but its purpose is to create a new one for the guest.

For Haley, the measure of success is not limited to what is on the plate. It is creating a restaurant where guests feel genuinely welcomed, cooks build meaningful careers, and every meal leaves someone with a story worth sharing.