SCott crawford
Known for his clean flavors and contemporary cuisine, Chef Scott Crawford has earned esteemed praise for his approach to seasonal cooking in the South. After more than a decade as executive chef in luxury properties, including five years at The Umstead Hotel and Spa, Crawford opened Crawford & Son in downtown Raleigh in November 2016 where he celebrates the seasonal harvest and local resources through his simple yet inspired preparations. Crawford & Sonwas named the “Triangle’s Restaurant of the Year” in 2018. In 2019, Crawford will open a French bistro named for and inspired by his daughter, Jolie, next door to his eponymous, Crawford and Son. In 2020, look for his modern American steakhouse –Crawford Brothers.
Crawford’s leadership extends beyond the kitchen. Inspired by his own struggle finding a healthy work-life balance in the culinary industry, Crawford implemented a company culture fostering a healthy work environment for his team. Additionally, he has taken on an active role in the community by speaking publicly on the sustainability of the hospitality industry as well as co-founder of Ben’s Friends and founder of the Raleigh chapter, a support group for food and beverage professionals who struggle with substance abuse and addiction.
A five-time James Beard Foundation semifinalist for “Best Chef: Southeast,” Crawford has embraced the South’s rich agriculture, and blazed a trail of culinary prestige while cooking across the region.
Crawford earned the coveted Forbes Five-Star award at Herons in The Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary, N.C., from 2010 to 2014, as he had previously, at The Georgian Room at The Cloister Hotel in Sea Island, Ga., from 2007 to 2009, and at The Woodlands Resort & Inn in Summerville, S.C., from 2004 to 2006. Under his direction, Esquire Magazine named The Georgian Room a “Best New Restaurant” and Newsweek recognized Herons among the “101 Best Places to Eat in the World.” Prior to opening Crawford & Son in the Oakwood neighborhood, Crawford received praise for his progressive take on Southern comfort food as executive chef of Standard Foods, where he also spearheaded the restaurant’s whole-animal butcher program and backyard feeder farm.
When not in the kitchen, Crawford spends quality family time with his wife and two children, and is a mentor to peers in the hospitality industry through Ben’s Friends. Follow Chef Scott Crawford on Twitter @chefcrawford and on Instagram @chefscottcrawford and Crawford & Son on Facebook; Follow @CrawfordnSon, @JolieRestaurant and @CrawfordBrosNC.