Crista Luedtke

Boon Brand

Crista Luedtke is a true visionary force with fiery energy. Coming from solid Midwest roots, she was born into her parent’s restaurant and the rest is history. In 2007 she left behind a successful corporate career in San Francisco to resume a life in the hospitality industry. Her journey began when she took ownership + renovated a struggling resort, opening...

The continued nagging urge to open her own restaurant, led her to follow her passion of cooking, tapping her culinary upbringing. She established boon eat + drink restaurant in 2009 to much success. Crista learned the art of cooking at a very early age through her incredibly talented mother; and her skills in restaurant + hospitality management in the years that followed. Crista grew up in both the front and back of the house in family restaurants doing everything from waiting tables to cooking on the line. She is passionate about seasonal ingredients and uses her two gardens at boon to inspire her menus.

Crista was the visionary and founding partner in a gourmet deli + general store concept, [big bottom market] in downtown Guerneville in July 2011, which has garnered much press including ‘2016 Oprah’s Favorite Things’ for the biscuit mix. She sold her share of her partnership in January of 2018, to pursue new adventures .

In 2014, Crista created the modern Mexican cocktail lounge, El Barrio, featuring craft cocktails focused on mezcal, tequila, and bourbon and modern takes on Mexican food.

In 2019 BROT modern german was born – a new culinary addition to the boon brand family. A contemporary German wursthaus + bierhalle. BROT celebrates her heritage and honors her parents who owned a German restaurant in Wisconsin called Luedtke’s Bratskeller. In 2024 Luedtke re-concepted Brot into her latest vision of a global street food concept called Road Trip.

If it’s one thing we know, Crista is never without a new creative vision. Crista’s career has been largely about honoring the people and places she loves. Travel inspires so much of what she brings to life in her all her concepts.

She was crowned as the Food Network’s first ever Triple G Grand Champion in December 2015, and Champion of DDD- GGG Super Teams in January 2020 on Guy’s Grocery Games. She continues to be a regular on Food Network as both a fierce competitor and culinary judge. She is currently featured on a food and travel concept docuseries, called ‘Lost in Taste’ and her newest show ‘Tastes Buds’, which air on ReachTV, and… She was featured in a documentary short film called ‘Empire on Main Street’, that won many awards on the Film Festival circuit, including “Best Documentary Short” at the Emerging Filmmaker Showcase at the American Pavilion in Cannes, France.

In 2021, Crista partnered with Christian Strobel, of Strobel Development, to re-position and bring new life to the beloved Highlands Resort, another boutique hotel in the Russian River area. The Duo completed a full remodel in March 2023 featuring refined cabins in the woods with a rustic adult summer camp vibe.

Crista has been the force behind the design and branding of all her concepts. Nothing makes her happier than connecting with people through food and beverage and creating lasting experiences. She lives with her forever patient, and supportive partner, and their senior rescue dogs.