Grayson Schmitz competed on Top Chef: Texas season nine.  Hailing from the small town of New Holstein, Wisconsin, Grayson began working in professional kitchens at age 15. After high school, she migrated to the East coast to pursue schooling in culinary arts and graduated from the Culinary Institute of America (CIA).  She spent her formative years training under the best chefs in New York City, including Jean Georges Vongerichten, Fabbio Trabocchi, and Kurt Gutenbrunner.  Most recently, Grayson worked as head of recipe development at Olivier Cheng, New York's premier events catering company.  Like her personality, Grayson's food is inspiring, but not pretentious.  She prides herself on complex flavors with rustic preparation.