Kyle Knall
Chef and Co-Owner, Birch and Culinary Director at Stone Bank Farm (Milwaukee, WI)
Kyle Knall is the Culinary Director at Stone Bank Farms and Chef and Co-Owner of Birch, which spotlights ingredients sourced exclusively from the region in an open-hearth setting while prioritizing delicious, honest cooking and sustainability.
His work has contributed to the transformation of Milwaukee’s dining scene and earned impressive accolades, including a nomination for “Outstanding Chef” by the James Beard Foundation (2022) and a nod for Birch on The New York Times “The Restaurant List” (2023), where Kyle’s cooking is 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 was a partner of Maysville in New York and Kenton’s in New Orleans, both of which received critical acclaim.
Meghan Knall
Co-Owner, Birch (Milwaukee, WI)
Meghan Knall co-owns Birch in Milwaukee’s Lower East Side with her husband and the restaurant’s Executive Chef, Kyle Knall. Birch marks a return home for the Milwaukee native and hospitality industry veteran. Prior to Birch, Meghan spent nearly two-decades working in management and service roles at decorated and critically acclaimed establishments in New York including Mas (Farmhouse), Almanac, Mas (La Grillade), Corton, Smith & Vine and Tabla.
In 2020, the Knalls moved back to Wisconsin to be near family and open the neighborhood restaurant, which prioritizes delicious, honest cooking and sustainability in equal measure. The restaurant has contributed to the the rapid transformation of Milwaukee’s dining scene and earned impressive accolades including a nod for Birch on The New York Times coveted list of the best restaurants in America, “The Restaurant List” in 2023 and a nomination for “Outstanding Chef” by the James Beard Foundation in 2022 for Kyle. Meghan brings her hospitality-forward approach to Birch’s culture, creating a team and community-focused environment where the well-being of staff and the greater Milwaukee community are the utmost priority.
Meghan and Kyle currently live in Fox Point with their son, Aidan, and daughter, Madeline. They are dedicated to giving back to their community and actively support causes including the Kinship Community Food Center, St. Marcus Lutheran School, Milwaukee Public Museum, and the Alma Center, among others.