Created by Chef Denise Portillo, 

I’ve been a chef for over 25 years — running restaurants, building catering teams, and feeding everyone from celebrities to families to massive corporate events. I’ve seen the heart of this industry: the late nights, the no-shows, the last-minute scrambles, and the people who always pull it off anyway. 

There were so many times when we were short-staffed and desperate for help. We’d make call after call, hoping someone was nearby and ready to jump in. Before texting and apps, we relied on memory and luck. Even my best workers — like college students — would leave town for school, and I’d think, if only I could find them again when they were back. 

So I built Fork’d Up — not as a staffing agency, but as a connection tool. It’s real-time. It’s simple. Businesses match with workers by ZIP code and job type. No filters, no resumes getting lost — just direct, instant help. 

Think of it as a love connection meets Uber, made by someone who knows the hustle of the kitchen and front of house. 

What’s with the name? 

My last restaurant was called Forkin’ Good Café, and when this idea came to life, the name Fork’d Up felt right. It’s bold. It’s a little cheeky. And honestly, it captures our industry's energy when things go sideways — which they always do. 

This app is for the chefs, bartenders, dishwashers, hosts, line cooks, and bussers who keep things moving. It’s for anyone who’s ever had to cover a shift at the last minute, or wished they could jump into one on the fly. 

Fork’d Up is for us. 

With heart, hustle, and lots of good food,

Chef Denise Portillo