Kyle Knall - Birch

WHO: Kyle Knall is chef and co-owner of Birch and culinary director at Stone Bank Farm in Milwaukee, WI. ABOUT: At Birch, Knall spotlights ingredients sourced exclusively from the region in an open-hearth setting while prioritizing delicious, honest cooking and sustainability. Building on Birch's success, Knall is opening Cassis, a French bistro in Milwaukee's Third Ward, in the fall.  His work has contributed to the transformation of Milwaukee’s dining scene and earned accolades including a semi-finalist nomination for Best Chef: Midwest (2024, 2025) and Outstanding Chef (2022) by the James Beard Foundation, as well as a nod for Birch on The New York Times’ “Restaurant List” (2023), where his cooking was celebrated as “worldly Midwestern cuisine free of clichés.”  The Birmingham native has always had a passion for food, rooted in the traditions of the American South. Kyle has worked under industry luminaries Frank Stitt, Michael Anthony, and Stephen Starr. Earlier in his career, he wa