Meet Kate Burr | Culinary Thought Leader, Creative Marketing Strategist, & Restaurateur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kate Burr and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi kate, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Now or never. That was the first thought that crossed my mind when I decided to venture out on my own and launch A LA MODE Co., my boutique consultancy specializing in cultural marketing, partnerships, and brand strategy. It was the same feeling I had when Ben Shenassafar and Jared Meisler approached me to partner on the opening of The Benjamin—our love letter to classic American dining in the heart of Hollywood.

For years, people would ask, “When will you do your own thing?” I had always taken on side projects and was the first to help friends, but turning those side hustles into a full-time business wasn’t something I seriously considered until a year ago. That’s when I saw a gap—an opportunity to bring my creative vision, industry expertise, and deep hospitality roots from New York—one of the world’s most iconic dining cities—to a dynamic market like LA.

I named it A LA MODE because the phrase has always resonated with me for its dual meaning: in French, it means “in style” or “fashionable,” and in English, it’s synonymous with something topped with ice cream—an extra layer of delight. It perfectly reflects the way I approach my work—thoughtful, trend-forward, and always adding something special.

A year in, I couldn’t be prouder of the decision to step into entrepreneurship. The journey has been challenging, rewarding, and deeply fulfilling—and I’m just getting started.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I believe that discovering your passion at a young age is rare, but for me, it was always clear. I was drawn to the culinary world from the start—whether it was watching Two Fat Ladies with my mom or hunting for the best soup dumplings in New York with my family. Food was never just about eating; it was about experience, connection, and storytelling. When it came time to choose a career, there was no other option—it was where I felt most in flow.

That passion led me from an internship with one of the top culinary talent agents to working alongside chef and author Eddie Huang, assisting him across all of his ventures. From there, I moved into PR, marketing, and partnerships at some of the industry’s top hospitality-focused agencies—The Door and Becca PR—where I built the foundation of my career. Each role was a stepping stone, leading me from one impactful opportunity to the next. The work wasn’t easy, but I loved it. Passion made the challenges feel worthwhile.

Then, COVID changed everything. It forced me—and so many others—to reassess, rethink, and find new ways to create and contribute. That period pushed me into consulting, where I leveraged everything I had learned and the relationships I had built to work with my own clients. It was during this time that I started as a culinary strategist for Moët Hennessy’s prestige portfolio, eventually transitioning in-house as part of the Consumer Engagement team. There, I was able to bring together all of my experiences—leveraging my network, strategic thinking, and creativity to shape how these brands showed up in the U.S. and engaged with their audiences.

Brand-building, storytelling, and creativity have always been at the core of what I do. After serving as CMO for Thomas Ashbourne, launching my own business felt like the natural next step. In March 2024, I debuted A LA MODE Co., a boutique consultancy that allows me to channel all of my passions without being confined to one category. A LA MODE isn’t meant to fit in a single box—for some clients, we lead cultural marketing; for others, partnerships and experiential strategy. I manage talent and brand collaborations while also focusing on audience development and storytelling. And most importantly, I get to support restaurants, chefs, and hospitality brands while also owning my own restaurant, The Benjamin Hollywood, which opened last summer.

Opening a restaurant felt like a natural next step to those on the outside—but to me, it was never the plan. I had spent years launching restaurants for others, yet never envisioned having my own. Now, it’s been one of the most rewarding (and challenging) experiences of my career. It has shaped the way I think, market, and operate, giving me new perspectives that I now bring to my clients. More than anything, it was a testament to the past 13 years in the industry—a proof of concept I didn’t know I needed. Having the creative freedom to concept, build, and market my own restaurant has been the ultimate validation of everything I’ve worked toward.

To me, success isn’t about following a rigid path—it’s about staying true to what fuels you, applying everything you’ve learned, and waking up every day excited about the work you’re doing. That’s what I’ve built my career on, and that’s what continues to drive me forward.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Most of my itineraries for friends revolve around—no surprise here—eating! And of course, I’d be remiss not to start with The Benjamin Hollywood. My partners and I created a space we felt was lacking in LA, and for that reason, I truly believe it’s one of the best restaurant hangouts in the city. Not to mention, we serve a mean martini, burger, and carrot cake.

Beyond that, I love exploring LA’s diverse hubs of ethnic dining—Koreatown, San Gabriel Valley, and Thai Town are musts. A proper taco tour is non-negotiable, and one of my favorite routes includes Mariscos Jalisco for their legendary shrimp tacos, Tacos y Birria La Unica, Leo’s for al pastor, and wrapping up at Del Mar Ostioneria. If we’re feeling extra adventurous, Holbox in downtown is an absloute gem worth the detour.

I always make room for a meal at one of Ori Menashe’s restaurants—whether it’s Saffy’s, Bavel, or Bestia, you can’t go wrong. For an afternoon snack, we’d hit Ggiata Delicatessen for The Burr, their unreal tuna sandwich. Sunday brunch? Leora in Beverly Hills, where the fresh Mediterranean-inspired fare is hard to beat.

Midweek, we’d visit the Santa Monica Farmers’ Market on Wednesday, grab a post-market croissant at Petitgrain Boulangerie, and pick up Italian specialties at Bay Cities to cook up something incredible with all the fresh produce we scored.

To balance all the eating, I’d sprinkle in a hike and some visits to art galleries, which has become a new area of interest for me. And if we’re really going for it, a drive up to Santa Barbara for lunch at Bettina would be the perfect way to cap off the trip.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’ve been incredibly fortunate to work with and be mentored by individuals who have profoundly shaped both my career and who I am as a person. My family, particularly my dad, has always been a cornerstone of my support system. On the professional side, I owe a great deal to my former boss, Charlie Dougiello, during my time at The Door, a creative relations agency. Charlie’s ability to think strategically, manage clients and teams, and transform small ideas into big successes was nothing short of inspiring. Even early in my career, he empowered me by entrusting me with securing new business, leading accounts, and building authentic client relationships—all while encouraging me to stay true to myself.

I’m incredibly fortunate to work alongside my partners, Ben Shenassafar and Jared Meisler, at The Benjamin. Ben, in particular, has been an invaluable mentor and source of knowledge, offering guidance and support long before we officially became business partners. His mentorship has been instrumental in helping me build, launch, and sustain my consulting agency. With over 21 years of entrepreneurial experience, Ben’s business acumen is unparalleled, and his generosity with his time and insights extends far beyond just me—I’ve seen firsthand how he shares his knowledge and support with so many others.

I’m deeply grateful to be surrounded by mentors and collaborators who inspire me, challenge me, and support my continued growth—both personally and professionally.

Website: https://Thebenjaminhollywood.com

Other: https://www.instagram.com/a.la.mode_co/

https://www.instagram.com/kate.burr/