Stephanie Lee Taylor, a proud Philadelphia native, is a 25-year veteran in the culinary industry and the owner and chef of Welcome Home Café, a breakfast and lunch eatery specializing in homestyle cuisine with a healthy twist.

Welcome Home Café was a prayer promise spoken to Chef Stephanie in 2004. After many years of running her own catering company and working for restaurants in Pennsylvania and California, Chef Stephanie put everything on the line and opened Welcome Home Café in the middle of the 2020-2021 pandemic. Knowing the risks, she trusted that her faith, hard work, and dedication would be enough to make it all happen. With the support of her husband John, family, and close friends, Welcome Home Café ofcially opened on May 15, 2021.

Welcome Home Café offers guests a casual yet exceptional culinary experience with all-day breakfast and lunch. The menu is a blend of homestyle favorites alongside innovative creations, all prepared with an abundance of fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The café prides itself on providing prompt and professional service in a clean, comfortable, and well-maintained environment. To ensure inclusivity, the menu is carefully crafted to accommodate a variety of dietary needs. Guests can also enjoy handcrafted beverages made with quality ingredients to complement their meals.

Where It All Began

Although Stephanie’s passion lies in the kitchen, her career began in corporate accounting, where she honed her organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to work with speed and accuracy. Realizing her true calling was in the culinary world, Stephanie enrolled in The Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College, where she studied Specialized Culinary Arts and graduated with honors.

After graduation, Stephanie relocated to Los Angeles, where she gained a wealth of experience as Food Service Director for a statewide agency while simultaneously running her catering business, “Chef Steph at Your Service.” For over a decade, Chef Steph created culinary delights as the resident caterer for various television network shows, Hollywood executives, and prestigious award shows, including the Golden Globes, Academy Awards, and VH1 Music Awards.

While living in California, Stephanie developed a deep devotion to wholesome cooking and became well-versed in various cuisines. She also found joy in educating others on the benets of “eating to live.” Upon returning to her hometown in 2012, Stephanie took on roles as General Manager for two of Philadelphia’s most popular soul food restaurants: Victoria’s Kitchen and Catering, where she worked for ve years, and Booker’s Restaurant and Bar, where she was highlighted on FYI Philly.

Stephanie resides with her husband, John, in the East Falls community of Philadelphia. When she isn’t cooking, the couple enjoys working out, exploring new restaurants around town, wine tasting, and cheering on their favorite sports teams.