Molly Thompson
2023 Dance With Your Heart Celebrity
Molly Thompson
Vice President of Otto's Restaurant Group
Charity: La Soupe
Pro Partner: Brandon Perpich
Molly was born and raised in Paris, KY, where food and entertaining were a constant fixture. Her mother and aunt ran a small catering business and the family often hosted gatherings, with the menu and hospitality always taking center stage.
After graduating with a BA in Sociology from DePauw University in Greencastle, IN, Molly spent five years in Chicago working at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. In the evenings, Molly bartended downtown and got her first glimpse of the service industry. From there Molly returned to her roots in the bluegrass state and enrolled in culinary school at the Midwest Culinary Institute.
While studying at MCI, she began working as a server and cook at Otto's, a neighborhood bistro in Covington’s Mainstrasse Village. As Molly was finishing culinary school, the owners tapped her to be the Chef de Cuisine of Otto's. With nervous excitement, she stepped into the role and from there her culinary career has flourished. Over the next 15 years, the company grew to 5 concepts and Molly now serves as the Vice President of Otto's Restaurant Group. She and her husband Joe, who met through Otto's, live in Mainstrasse with their two children.