Hardette Harris
Owner & Executive Chef,
Us Up North
Chef Hardette Harris, a 2000 Art Institute of Houston graduate, passionately celebrates North Louisiana cuisine. A celebrated chef, she is known for creating North Louisiana’s official state meal in 2015, only the second such designation in the U.S. Recognized as Louisianian of the Year 2017, Country Roads Magazine Best Small Town Chef 2017, and a 2024 James Beard Best Chef: South semifinalist, she has also received accolades like the Heinz/Lee Initiative Award and a Mellon Fellowship. Her Shreveport-based “Us Up North” Kitchen is famed for its award-winning catfish, and she has showcased North Louisiana cuisine globally with a Masterclass at the 2025 GTCO Food and Drink Festival. West Africa’s largest food festival. A culinary ambassador, Harris continues to elevate Louisiana’s food culture through writing, teaching, and leadership in food organizations.
