Founded 2018 / Coronado, Chicago, San Diego

Behind the table

The Blank Table was founded in 2018 by longtime friends Alexandria Ott and Chef Frederick Keller, whose friendship began in the seventh grade growing up in Coronado, California.

Years later, they reconnected in Chicago, where Alex was immersed in the city’s hospitality and creative industries while Fred was working in some of its most celebrated kitchens. Their shared passion for food, travel, and bringing people together inspired a return to their hometown and the creation of The Blank Table.

With nearly two decades of experience in hospitality, Alex has built her career working alongside acclaimed chefs, restaurateurs, hoteliers, and visionary brands to shape how people experience food, culture, and place. As Founder & CEO of Chrome City Creative Studio, she brings a unique perspective that combines hospitality expertise, brand strategy, cultural storytelling, and large-scale experiential production.

That understanding of both the business and the art of hospitality is what drives The Blank Table. Under Alex’s creative direction, the series has become one of San Diego’s most sought-after culinary experiences, bringing together exceptional talent, unexpected locations, and thoughtful collaborations that push beyond the traditional dining experience.

Today, The Blank Table is expanding beyond its signature underground dinner series to create bespoke experiences for global brands, private groups, and cultural partners, all guided by the belief that the most memorable experiences are the ones you never saw coming.