Southernish

Southernish is a catering service in Homer Glen, IL, that specializes in personal chef experiences and hands-on cooking classes. The business is led by Chef Joe Rousey and his partner Linsey, who work with clients to create custom menus for in-home dining events. The team cooks and cleans on the day of the event, allowing hosts to enjoy their own gathering as guests. Southernish also runs a calendar of public cooking classes and private events at its culinary studio in nearby Downtown Lemont, where small groups prepare dishes together and share a meal at a communal table. While the name points to a love of Southern cooking, the menu draws on American classics, Asian influences, and a wide range of other cuisines.

Joe and Linsey met in 2012 and built Southernish together out of a shared love of cooking at home. Joe, a 10-year Army veteran and former construction manager, began his culinary career by walking into an open call for cooks with a major Chicago hospitality group, where he earned a stage at one of the city's most celebrated new restaurants and turned it into a full-time kitchen career. He later launched Southernish as a cooking blog at the start of the 2020 pandemic, and the business has grown from there. Linsey, who originally had culinary training before moving into local government, returned to food through the business and now contributes creatively to its dessert work. The team emphasizes local and organic ingredients when possible, and all of the food is hand crafted for each event.

The business sits on South Oak Street, about half a mile south of West 143rd Street and Long Run creek. Reed Elementary School is roughly 0.8 miles away, and Archer Avenue and State Street are both within about 0.9 miles. The Veterans Memorial Tollway runs around 1.4 miles from the location.

Southernish holds a rating of 4.70 from the customers who have reviewed it. With roots in Chicago kitchens and a studio base in nearby Lemont, the business brings restaurant-style cooking directly into homes across Homer Glen and the surrounding area.