Chef
Tahnee Francis
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Portrait of Tahnee Francis
i. Biography
Tahnee Francis built Naija Wife Kitchen in Oklahoma City through a working knowledge of service, edit-room discipline, and day-to-day repetition. Raised in Garland, Texas, she comes to food after time spent in publishing and digital media, and that background shows in the way her name is now tied to the pace, voice, and identity of the business.
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The Climb
The foundations here were set in publishing, where Tahnee Francis started in 2008 and worked inside a field built on deadlines, structure, and editorial control. That discipline carried into her work operating a digital magazine in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, where online publication demanded speed, consistency, and a clear point of view. Those years gave her range across words and audience, and they now sit behind the more immediate work of cooking and running a restaurant.
The move into food service placed Tahnee Francis in the role of founder, restaurateur, owner, and cook at Naija Wife Kitchen, a title set that marks both management and direct kitchen labor. In Oklahoma City, the restaurant is where those parts meet: the business side, the plate, and the daily standard of execution all sit under the same name.
Today
At Naija Wife Kitchen, Tahnee Francis works as both owner and cook, which keeps her accountable to the operation and the line at the same time. That combination matters in trade terms: the person setting direction is also the one carrying the work through service. Naija Wife Kitchen is the place where her background in publishing, digital media, and restaurant ownership resolves into one practical mode of work.
FAQ
Asked of Tahnee
What is Tahnee Francis's current role?
As of 2026, Tahnee Francis is Owner and cook.
Where did Tahnee Francis work before?
Tahnee Francis's earlier career included Publishing industry and Digital magazine.
What recognition has Tahnee Francis received?
James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef: Southwest (2025).
The Sunday email
Read about chefs like Tahnee Francis in the Sunday email.
Every Sunday we send a lead story and up to four more about the chefs, winemakers, sommeliers and hoteliers behind the restaurants, bars, wineries and hotels we cover.
Recent stories
Free. One email a week, and you can unsubscribe from any issue.