The Culinary Legacy of Chef Wayne Schilleci: From New Orleans Roots to Arkansas Catering Excellence
Chef Wayne Schilleci
Chef Wayne Schilleci is a prominent figure in the Arkansas culinary landscape, serving as the owner and lead chef of Arkansas Catering. With a career spanning over 30 years as a business owner and approximately 25 years specifically in restaurant ownership, Schilleci has built a reputation for delivering "chef-driven menus" and "polished service"
His culinary journey began in Jacksonville, Arkansas, and was shaped by significant time spent in Texas and New Orleans, where he was deeply influenced by his mother’s New Orleans-style cooking
Since returning to Central Arkansas roughly five years ago, Schilleci has established Arkansas Catering in downtown Cabot, specializing in full-service execution for corporate events, weddings, and private gatherings.
Chef Wayne Shilleci featured on Eat is up with Hayden Balgavy on THV11.
Before the establishment of Arkansas Catering as a dominant force in the Cabot area, Wayne Schilleci spent decades as a restaurant owner and operator. He has stated that his current catering success is the "culmination of about 25 years of ownership in the restaurant business".
During this tenure, he owned and operated six successful restaurants.
This extensive background in restaurant management is a key differentiator for his catering service. The experience of running six different establishments taught Schilleci the importance of timelines, service standards, and "restaurant-level flavor"—qualities he now applies to the logistics of off-site catering. His 30 years of experience as an owner in the industry provide him with a unique perspective on the "grind" of the kitchen and the necessity of "polished service”.
While the names of the specific six restaurants are not detailed in the available public records, Schilleci’s reputation as a "seasoned chef" and a successful entrepreneur is well-documented.
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Cinnamon Rolls are homemade with real butter, fresh cinnamon and our famous icing.