Eddie Duracka
Chef/Owner
Originally from the Southside of Chicago, his family moved to Channahon when he was in grade school.  His love for cooking began when he lived in the city where he fondly recalls watching cooking shows on PBS with his grandma.
Eddie received his culinary degree from the Illinois institute of Art – Chicago in 2010. At the beginning of his career, Eddie was lucky enough to work under James Beard nominated Chef Dave Tallent at his namesake farm-to-table restaurant in Bloomington, Indiana. Eddie was inspired by the quality of the produce and proteins being delivered directly to the restaurant from the local farmers.
After working at restaurants in Bloomington, San Antonio and Chicago, Eddie decided to plant roots in his hometown of Minooka, where he and his wife are raising their three children.  Before opening Rooted, Ed spent the better part of a decade working with Chef Paul Virant at his highly celebrated farm-to-table restaurant, Vie in Western Springs. Ed became sous chef at Vie in 2013, before being named chef de cusine at Vistro, the sister restaurant in Hinsdale in 2018.
As the Chef/Owner of Rooted, Eddie is proud to lead a dynamic team focused on offering fresh, seasonally-driven dishes, collaborating with over 15 local farmers and producers. This commitment to local ingredients and seasonal flavors has shaped Eddie’s career, instilling in him a deep respect for the integrity of ingredients driving him to support the hard-working farmers in his community.
Brenda Keener
General Manager/Owner
“I have great memories of growing up on a farm and sitting down with family every night for homecooked meals by my mom and I have always appreciated very good food and drinks made with fresh ingredients and interesting flavors. After 21 years of practicing medicine, I decided it was time for a change. I dreamed of having a wine and cocktail bar in our town for some time and after meeting Chef Eddie, the opportunity to create Rooted presented itself. I wanted to create a comfortable yet beautiful space where people can connect over great food and drinks in our town. I am passionate about using high quality ingredients, supporting local farmers and businesses, and maintaining local friendly charm in our service.”
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Brenda Keener is a 4th generation Minooka resident. She grew up on the family farm and graduated from Minooka High School. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Augustana College, majoring in biology and pre-medicine. She attended Midwestern University in Downers Grove and received a Master of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Studies. She has practiced medicine in the Morris and Joliet area for 23 years, mostly in Emergency Medicine. She most recently completed Level 1 Sommelier training at Kendall College in Chicago. She has been married to her husband, Shon, for 24 years. Her pride and joy, and greatest accomplishments, are her two sons, Alex and Ryan. When she’s not at Rooted you may find her on a nature trail, at the gym or working a shift in the ER.
