Chef Profiles

Here are profiles of some of Greater Raleigh's most talked-about chefs. For more coverage of area chefs and noteworthy restaurants, check out the visitRaleigh blog posts for Foodies.

ASHLEY CHRISTENSEN

Poole’s Diner, Beasley's Chicken & Honey, Chuck's and Fox Liquor Bar

Raleigh native Chef Ashley Christensen is making a name for herself with four downtown Raleigh restaurants, Poole’s Diner, Beasley's Chicken & Honey, Chuck's and Fox Liquor Bar. These local eateries are quickly becoming favorites among downtown diners and have garnered the local chef national praise.

Featuring an ever-changing menu that’s inspired by the season, Christensen’s flagship restaurant Poole’s Diner is not only her oldest restaurant: it’s arguably one of the best and was named one of the "11 Restaurants Worth the Money" in Gourmet magazine.

The two-time finalist for a prestigious James Beard Award proved her dishes are worth the praise when she received an invitation to appear on the Food Network’s Iron Chef America, squaring off against celebrity chef Bobby Flay. Christensen paired off against Iron Chef Flay in Kitchen Stadium, serving up inspired dishes with Chum Salmon as the secret ingredient.

WALTER ROYAL

Angus Barn

Executive chef at Raleigh’s Angus Barn, Chef Walter Royal is known for his exquisite dishes and savory eats.

Named the 1997 Five-Star Chef of the Year by Restaurant Guild International, Royal became the first African American to earn the prestigious distinction. Additionally, he’s been named one of the Top Five Chefs in the Southeast, recognized as one of James Beard’s Rising Stars, the Top Black Chef in America and, locally, he’s been named the Best Chef in the Triangle.

In an interview with Southern Living magazine, Royal described the Angus Barn as having a “ma-and-pa feel,” something he described as important. “When you work at a place where the owner is there working beside you, that helps you do your job better, manage your people better and take care of your customers.”

He’s been featured on the pages of numerous food magazines including Gourmet, Ebony, Savory and Southern Living, all which praised his impeccable culinary skills and technique.

SEAN FOWLER

Mandolin

Raleigh native Sean Fowler offers diners a mix of Southern tradition and modern influences with his newly-opened restaurant Mandolin.

Situated at Raleigh's Five Points, on the corner of Fairview and Oberlin, Chef Fowler returned to his childhood neighborhood, giving him a unique perspective on the influence of a community restaurant.

Drawing on influences from around the world, he presents mouth-watering eats with unique and unexpected pairings. Describing his debut restaurant as having a soulful, comforting atmosphere, Chef Fowler says the restaurant is a comfortable community eatery, where families can comfortably eat alongside business diners.