Flights at Limelight: Sunday Après Series
After your laps, keep the weekend going. Join us Sundays at Limelight Mammoth starting March 1 for live DJs and après specials— tiny ‘tinis, sliders, and a lounge worth lingering in. Ski. Sip. Stay awhile.
Growing up in southern Washington, Chef Kaleena Bliss has always had a love for the Pacific
Northwest's terrain and abundant ingredients. She earned her bachelor’s degree at The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park NY, and has since cultivated a successful career in renowned restaurants across Seattle, the greater Puget Sound region, and Chicago.
After Kaleena moved to Seattle in 2013, she took on the role of CDC at the chef driven restaurant Mistral Kitchen, before becoming the Executive Sous Chef at the historic Edgewater Hotel. She eventually landed as the Executive Chef at the Thompson Seattle hotel across from the Pike Place Market, overseeing their award winning rooftop bar The Nest, main restaurant Conversation Kitchen, and their banquet and events program.
In 2022, she relocated to Chicago, and most recently served as the Executive Chef at the iconic, downtown Michelin key hotel, the Chicago Athletic Association. In this role, she oversaw the acclaimed restaurant Cindy's Rooftop which overlooks Millenium Park from the 13th story, along with the hotel's extensive banquet and events program. It was here that Kaleena and her culinary team were recognized as the 2023 ‘Culinary Team of the Year for Hyatt’s lifestyle division’ across the Americas region.
Notably, Kaleena is an alum of Bravo’s Top Chef season 21 Milwaukee. She was crowned the Grand Champion on Food Network's Chopped ‘Casino Royale’ series, triumphed on Beat Bobby Flay, and secured first place on the first season of Food Network’s Beachside Brawl series, where she represented the coastal cuisine of the Pacific Northwest. She was also highlighted on Bobby Flay’s Triple Threat season 2, and made it to the quarter finals on Guy Fieri’s Tournament of Champions season 6, where she outlasted 24 other chefs. She will be competing again on TOC season 7, which is set to premier this March.
In recognition of her exceptional contributions, Chef Bliss was named a Puget Sound Business Journal '40 Under 40' honoree in 2022. She has been highlighted for her cooking in publications such as The Seattle Times, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Gourmet, Chicago Magazine, Puget Sound Business Journal, and Seattle Met.
In fall of 2025, she returned to her hometown Vancouver, WA where she plans to open a restaurant with her business partner in 2027. In the meantime, Kaleena has been focusing on private cheffing and working with various hospitality companies as a Chef Consultant. She is currently working with the Aspen Hospitality team at their recently opened Limelight Mammoth property.