Lunch with a Leader | BusyButternut Catering & Clarify Kitchen | Cindy Hyett

Description

NACC's monthly Lunch with a Leader series highlights one local Leader in a friendly, sit-down atmosphere. Sit side-by-side community leaders and fellow chamber members around a king's table as we learn about the professional and personal journey of our leaders over a plated meal. Registration is required as we are unable to accommodate walk-ins with limited seating.

THIS MONTH'S LEADER

Cindy Hyett 
BusyButternut Catering & Clarify Kitchen
Chef-Owner & Founder

BusyButternut Catering was built on the belief that food and hospitality have a higher purpose. We are deeply rooted in community, committed to giving back through philanthropy, and passionate about caring for people through thoughtful experiences. Whether we are serving a meal, teaching a skill, or supporting a local cause, we strive to share kindness, generosity, and knowledge, one gathering at a time.

Raised in Naperville as a third-generation Napervillian, on a quintessential middle-American diet of boxed mac and cheese and peanut butter sandwiches, Hyett didn’t grow up in a gourmet household. What she did grow up with was curiosity. She recorded episodes of José Andrés’ PBS series Made in Spain on VHS tapes and dreamed of travel. Later, working internationally as a software trainer in places like Ireland, Dubai, Singapore, and Australia, she tasted flavors that awakened something profound. “I couldn’t get my hands on enough food, crazy foods, weird foods. I fell in love with it all.”

That passion eventually led her to Le Cordon Bleu in Las Vegas, where she trained formally before working as a private chef on a yacht. Yet even with those experiences, something was missing. Teaching. Community. Home. 

Clarify Kitchen was born from that realization. And even its name carries layered meaning. In culinary terms, to “clarify” butter is to gently separate and refine it, removing impurities to reveal something pure and elevated. In the classroom, to clarify is to make something understandable and accessible. The name reflects Hyett’s mission: to demystify cooking, refine technique, and help people see food with new clarity.

The space at 1701 Quincy Ave. Suite 20 operates as a hands-on learning environment. Here, guests roll up their sleeves. They knead artisan bread dough, master weeknight meal prep, craft Spanish tapas, and refine advanced techniques. Couples gather for playful date nights, sommeliers host tasting workshops, and BusyButternut chefs offer demonstrations. It’s experiential, immersive, and designed to build confidence.

The programming spans generations. Summer culinary camps teach children how to grow produce, boil pasta safely, and build confidence in the kitchen. Adults rediscover the joy of preparing real food. Non-profits, corporations, and families rent the space for a myriad of celebrations, baby showers, and team-building events, often with optional catering from BusyButternut.

Education runs deep in Hyett’s roots. Her grandmother was an educator honored with a dedication to Ellsworth Elementary. Her father has long served as the announcer of Naperville’s Memorial Day and Labor Day parades. Teaching and community leadership are woven into her story.

A formative trip to Spain — inspired by the very José Andrés episodes she once recorded — helped clarify her vision. Visiting tapas bars and artisan producers, she experienced firsthand how food creates connection, conversation, and culture. Clarify Kitchen is her way of bringing that spirit back to Naperville.

At its core, Clarify Kitchen is about helping people deepen their relationship with food. It’s about moving beyond convenience and into intention. Beyond recipes and into understanding.

For Cindy Hyett, this isn’t just a business expansion. It’s a return to teaching, to community, and to the belief that food, when shared and understood, has the power to transform how we gather and grow.

By registering and attending this event, you grant the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce (NACC) the right to use your image and likeness in photographs, videos, and any other media captured during the event. You understand and agree that these materials may be used for promotional purposes, including but not limited to, social media, websites, and other marketing materials produced by or for the NACC.