Crista Luedtke (born 1975) is an American chef, entrepreneur, and television personality best known for transforming the culinary scene in Guerneville, California, and her appearances on Food Network’s Guy’s Grocery Games.
The visionary chef has built a hospitality empire in California’s Sonoma County, owning multiple successful restaurants, hotels, and bars that have transformed Guerneville into a premier culinary destination.
Crista Luedtke Wikipedia
| Full Name: | Crista Luedtke |
| Born: | 1975 (age 50 years old as of 2025) |
| Place of Birth: | Wisconsin, USA |
| Current Residence: | Guerneville, California |
| Nationality: | American |
| Occupation: | Chef, entrepreneur, hotelier, TV personality |
| Known For: | Boon Hotel + Spa, Boon Eat + Drink, Food Network appearances |
| Former Spouse: | Jill McCall (2008–2010) |
| Current Partner: | Kim Holliday |
| Net Worth: | $4–5 million (estimated) |
| Businesses: | Boon Hotel + Spa, Boon Eat + Drink, Road Trip Kitchen, El Barrio |
Early Life
Crista Luedtke was born in 1975 in Wisconsin, USA, and later raised in Arizona. She grew up in a restaurant family where her parents operated full-service dinner houses. Luedtke recalls standing on wooden boxes to reach the bar when mixing drinks for customers as a child.
Her early exposure to the restaurant business profoundly influenced her career path. Her father’s absence due to work commitments and eventual departure from the family for a work colleague left a lasting impact on Luedtke’s understanding of work-life balance.
Born and raised in Wisconsin and Arizona, Luedtke first fell in love with Guerneville after moving to San Francisco in 1999. On weekends, she would escape her corporate life by camping in the redwoods and floating down the Russian River.
Education
Luedtke completed her education in the United States, though specific details about her formal culinary training are not widely documented. Her restaurant expertise appears to have been developed through family experience and hands-on learning in her parents’ establishments.
Career
Early Professional Life
Before entering the hospitality industry, Luedtke worked as a biotech sales representative and later as a Bay Area mortgage broker. She also held positions in various corporate roles, building the financial foundation that would later support her entrepreneurial ventures.
Hospitality Empire
After the 2008 market crash, Luedtke made a pivotal decision to leave her corporate career and pursue her passion for hospitality. Using proceeds from selling her San Francisco home at market peak, she purchased the former Retreat Resort & Spa in Guerneville.
Boon Hotel + Spa (2008): Luedtke transformed the property into a chic, eco-friendly boutique hotel featuring 14 rooms in converted mercury miners’ cabins. The hotel includes a saltwater swimming pool and has achieved occupancy rates of 80-100% during peak season.
Boon Eat + Drink (2009): Exactly one year after opening the hotel, Luedtke launched her farm-to-table restaurant on Main Street. The 36-seat contemporary bistro emphasizes Sonoma County ingredients, including produce from the hotel’s own garden.
Big Bottom Market (2011): Luedtke created a modern general store offering gourmet grab-and-go food, wine, and gifts. The market became famous for her signature Big Bottom Biscuits, which made Oprah’s list of favorite things and sold thousands nationwide.
El Barrio (2014): Her Mexican-inspired cocktail bar features tequila, mezcal, and bourbon in a bold Latin American atmosphere with serape fabrics and cactus art.
Road Trip Kitchen (2024): Her newest venture offers global street food and childhood favorites, replacing her previous German restaurant Brot.
Television Career
Luedtke has appeared on multiple Food Network programs, including Guy’s Grocery Games, where she won an episode in 2015 creating flatiron steak with polenta and fish tacos with chorizo. She has also appeared on Tournament of Champions and Beat Bobby Flay. As of 2025, she serves as both competitor and judge on various Food Network shows.
Documentary Feature
Luedtke was featured in the award-winning documentary Empire on Main Street, which won Best Documentary Short at the 2018 Sonoma International Film Festival and received recognition at Cannes Film Festival.
Personal Life
Crista Luedtke was married to Jill McCall, a Marriage and Family Therapist from San Francisco, from 2008 to 2010. The couple divorced after two years, with Luedtke later acknowledging that she had “an affair with her businesses,” prioritizing work over their relationship.
Following her divorce, Luedtke found love again with Kim Holliday, with whom she shares a home on the Russian River. She is passionate about outdoor activities, particularly kayaking on the Russian River with wine and picnic spreads.
Luedtke owns a rescue dog named Boon, whom she adopted at 14 weeks from Anderson Valley Animal Rescue in Boonville. Now 12 years old, Boon inspired the naming of both her restaurant and hotel. She has a Thai tattoo reading “sawat” (meaning boon: a gift or blessing) on her right arm.
Net Worth
As of 2025, Crista Luedtke’s net worth is estimated between $4-5 million. Her wealth stems from her successful hospitality empire, including multiple restaurants, a boutique hotel, and various business ventures in Guerneville. Her businesses have achieved significant success, with hotel occupancy rates consistently high and her restaurants becoming destination dining experiences.
Body Measurements
Crista Luedtke is known for her distinctive appearance, featuring a rumpled side-swirl shock of blonde hair. Specific details about her height, weight, and other physical measurements are not publicly documented, as she maintains privacy regarding her personal physical statistics.
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References
- Visit California. “Crista Luedtke Knows All of the Best Spots in Town“. Visit California.
- Made Local Magazine. “Driven by Ambition“. Made Local Magazine.
- Sonoma Magazine. “Meet Crista Luedtke, The Visionary Behind Guerneville’s Transformation“. Sonoma Magazine.
- Forbes. “Living The Dream: How This Woman Transformed A California Wine Country Town“. Forbes.
- Tuko. “Who is Crista Luedtke married to after divorcing Jill McCall?“. Tuko.
- Wiki Biography. “Crista Luedtke: Wiki, Bio, Age, Wife, Net Worth, Family, Restaurant“. Wiki Biography.
- IMDb. “Crista Luedtke“. IMDb.
- SOBEWFF. “Luedtke, Crista“. South Beach Wine & Food Festival.
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