About me
From washing meatloaf pans to working with celebrity chefs, Chef Kip Poole’s 30-year culinary career has been centered
on creating community. After working in restaurants throughout high school, Kip earned his degree from Virginia Tech. His
internship at Walt Disney World showed him the importance of exceptional hospitality, and being the Kids Club Director at
Philadelphia Country Club showed him just how much kids enjoy real, good food.
Inspired by his early experience working with kids, Kip returned to college after several years in the restaurant business,
with the conviction to teach and inspire a new generation of culinary enthusiasts. In 20211, he received his Master’s in
Education from Wilmington University. During this time, Kip competed in the Food Network’s acclaimed show,
“Guy’s Grocery Games," hosted by Guy Fieri; worked in acclaimed restaurants; and served as the Executive Chef of Obis One, an inventive food specialty and farm.
In 2014, Kip founded The CROP Foundation (“CROP”), addressing students’ need for mentorship and direction. Over the
past decade, Kip’s beloved nonprofit has provided hundreds of students with the opportunity to train and work in real-world kitchens and restaurant environments.
With a passion for inspiring young culinary leaders and supporting all things local, Kip also served as Executive Chef for the Virginia Beach City Public Schools scratch-cooking program before partnering with local farm-to-table restaurant,
Commune, as Executive Chef of CommuneXCROP. In 2022, Kip was one of three Virginia-based chefs to appear on HBO Max’s “The Big Brunch,” a reality culinary competition executive-produced by Emmy award-winning actor, producer and creator Dan Levy. It was this experience that served as the impetus to open Yorkie’s in 2024. The modern deli market combines convenience, sustainability and community engagement, all while serving as a stage for CROP students, who serve as cooks and servers at the restaurant.
