Our Team
-
Sarah Baugher
Chef de Cuisine
Sarah’s experience spans kitchens over the East Coast, having gotten her start in Charleston, and spent the past five years leading kitchens in Pittsburgh, PA. As our CDC, she steers our kitchen team with passion, kindness and curiosity. Sarah loves to listen, tweak, adapt and organize – she knows where to find ideas in herself and others, and can make them come to life on a plate or in a team. Her cool head and positive attitude are a gift to our high energy kitchen!
A newlywed, Sarah shares her home with her wife, two dogs and two cats. She loves to be out in nature, whether that’s a trail or in her garden. A Georgia native, she relocated to Raleigh from PA in search of more sun, and better peaches! -
Lindsay Ogden
Restaurant & Beverage Manager
Lindsay was instrumental in building what Ajja would be – from our steps of service to our eclectic beverage menu. She is a phenomenal bartender and certified wine professional, making her the perfect person to design our wine list and drive our cocktail program. She comes up with her best cocktail ideas while lying on the floor, or while listening to audiobooks. Lindsay has risen to the role of Restaurant & Beverage manager and remains a key player in shaping Ajja to be the best it can be.
At home, she likes to lounge with her dog Tina and tend to her many, many plants. She loves to bake, is a gifted painter (ever noticed the intricately decorated rocks that come with your Ajja check?), and likes to listen to fantasy books and podcasts. -
Chris Gamble
Sous Chef
A real human Swiss knife, Chris is a spirited and curious chef. He fell into bread by way of pizza, having been on the opening teams for both Pooleside Pies and several Mellow Mushroom branches – and worked for months with Cheetie on creating Ajja’s fully handmade bread program. Beyond bread, Chris is a meticulous chef, ingenious with flavors, and a whizz at fixing the issues big and small that arise daily in the kitchen.
Chris is at home in nature, and loves to relax and recharge in the forest or by the ocean. In Raleigh, he makes nature happen in his yard, and often boasts sunflowers taller than him! He just recently purchased his own brick pizza oven, and we’re all looking forward to taste tests…