Diyon Lee

Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Chef DIYON LEE—better known as Chef Bagg Lee—has made Minnesota her home for many years, blending Midwest roots with big-city flavor. A proud Johnson High School graduate of 2007, Chef Bagg Lee discovered her love for cooking alongside the journey of parenthood. At 36, she is raising her 17-year-old son, with dreams of sending him off to college in Atlanta next year in 2026.

Cooking became a passion almost unexpectedly, but since 2016, Chef Bagg Lee has been carving out her place in the culinary world. What started as selling platesfrom home in St. Cloud, MN evolved into catering, opening a food trailer, and launching a Chicago-style candy store in 2021. She later explored the deli scene in Minneapolis on Emerson and Lowry and at the Downtown Market, but quickly realized her true calling was catering.

Today, 1st Choice Luxury Catering is Chef Bagg Lee’s flagship venture in Minneapolis, specializing in bringing bold, flavorful, and unforgettable dishes to every event.

Alongside her catering company, Chef Bagg Lee fuonded Funeral Food Bank, a nonprofit providing repass meals to low-income families who may not otherwise afford them. She also created Little Learners Catering, which has grown significantly by offering CACFP-approved meals t child and adult daycare centers, a venture she taught herself from the ground up.

When she is not in the kitchen, she is spending time with her son and making plans for his future, and teaching him what the hustle looks like. She enjoys traveling, reading, writing, playing bingo, and eating out like the true foodie that she is.