Our Story
James Beard award winning chefs Gavin Kaysen and Andrew Zimmern founded KZ Provisioning in 2017, expanding their expertise to serve elite athletes by developing programs to enhance their individual performance through food.
The team’s culinary expertise and dedication to hospitality enables them to provide exceptional dining experiences precisely when players need them the most. Their background in hospitality fosters an organizational commitment to overall wellness, recognizing its vital role in optimal performance. KZ Provisioning prioritizes creating meals that not only support athletes’ rigorous schedules but also bring comfort and joy to their dining experiences.
Since its inception, KZ Provisioning continues to be the trusted culinary partner for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Minnesota Lynx, and Minnesota Wild. KZ Provisioning offers delicious, performance-focused meals and healthy snacks tailored to the needs of the athletes, their coaches, and their families.
Our Team
Gavin Kaysen
Gavin Kaysen is the award-winning chef and founder of Soigné Hospitality Group in Minneapolis, known for his nationally recognized group of restaurants as well as his leadership in the culinary profession. His restaurants in the North Loop neighborhood of Minneapolis include Spoon and Stable, a 2015 James Beard Award Finalist for Best New Restaurant; Demi, an intimate 20-seat tasting menu experience ranked #3 on Robb Report’s list of “10 Best Restaurants in North America”; and Cooks | Bellecour, which serves an array of French bistro-inspired pastries, sandwiches, and more. His latest projects, Mara and Socca Café, were created in partnership with Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis. He is the proud recipient of two James Beard Awards: Rising Star Chef of the Year in 2008, and Best Chef: Midwest in 2018. Gavin serves on the board of the Fastbreak Foundation, the official charity for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Minnesota Lynx, T-Wolves Gaming and the Iowa Wolves.
Andrew Zimmern
Andrew Zimmern is an Emmy-winning and four-time James Beard award-winning TV personality, chef, writer and passionate global citizen. As the creator, executive producer and host of the Bizarre Foods franchise, Andrew Zimmern’s Driven by Food, What’s Eating America, Family Dinner, Wild Game Kitchen, Field to Fire and The Zimmern List, he has devoted his life to exploring and promoting cultural acceptance, tolerance and understanding through food. He is the founder of Intuitive Content, named one of the top 100 production companies in the world by Realscreen, and Passport Hospitality, a restaurant and food service development company. He sits on the boards of Services for the UnderServed, EXPLR Media, Soigne Hospitality, Giving Kitchen and Beans is How. Andrew is a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations World Food Program and The Nature Conservancy, the International Rescue Committee’s Voice for Nutrition and a founding member of the Coalition for Sustainable Aquaculture and the Independent Restaurant Coalition.
Ryan Stechschulte
Ryan realized his passion for cooking while spending his college summers as a candy-maker in northern Michigan. During his third year studying architecture, Ryan quit school and moved to Costa Rica where he landed a job cooking in a small mountain town just south of San Jose. This job solidified his desire to cooking a life-long undertaking. Ryan studied Culinary Arts at Johnson & Wales University and moved to Minneapolis to work for James Beard nominee Lucia Watson. Lucia’s Restaurant was a local pioneer of strong purveyor relationships, and Ryan formed deep connections with farmers that underscore his commitment to quality ingredients. When Gavin Kaysen returned to Minneapolis to open Spoon and Stable, Ryan joined the team immediately, going on to contribute to the launches of each of Gavin’s new ventures.