Chef Info

Executive Chef & Owner, Eric Cook

Eric Cook is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, is a combat veteran who served six years in the United States Marine Corps. With training from the John Folse Culinary Institute, he began his culinary career at Brennan’s in the French Quarter where he studied under Chef Mike Roussel. Soon after, Cook joined the team at Commander’s Palace as Sous Chef and Chef de Partie. Cook has also worked as a private chef, executive banquet chef, and research and development consultant for several national restaurants. His career has taken him through some of the finest restaurants in New Orleans and he has served as Executive Chef for National WWII Museum’s American Sector, Dickie Brennan’s Bourbon House, Tommy’s Cuisine, and N.O.S.H. Cook has worked on television shows such as Top Chef New Orleans and Off the Menu, After Hours with Daniel Boulud. He has been featured in magazines such as Saveur, Flavor & The Menu, St. Charles Avenue, Plate Magazine, Inkspired, and Louisiana Cookin’. He represented New Orleans at the James Beard House “Wild About Wild American Shrimp” event in 2007, and at the grand opening of the Southern Food and Beverage Museum (SoFAB). Cook also participates in the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience and Tales of the Cocktail. He has been honored to cook for the NFL Hall of Fame, the U.S. Marine Corps Ball and U.S. Navy Ball, private dinners the Sergeant Major of the United States Marine Corps and Vice Admiral of the Navy Reserve, and well as a special dinner for President George W. Bush, the President of Mexico, and the Prime Minister of Canada. In 2016 Cook won the National Chef’s Taste Challenge, 1st place in the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Seafood Competition, and is barbecue team "Born to Grill" won Whole Hog Champion of Hogs for the Cause. He has also participated in Great American Seafood Cookoff, the Louisiana Seafood Cookoff, New Orleans Wine & Food Experience, New Orleans Oyster Festival, and Euphoria Greenville. In 2019 he was named a culinary legend at the ACF Best Chefs of Louisiana. An advocate for the United States military and his hometown, Cook is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and is a founder and President of the First to Fight Foundation. He stayed in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina to helped feed troops and first responders. Cook is an active volunteer for organizations such as Wounded Warriors, The Legacy Foundation, Disposable Heroes Project, We Heart Veterans, and The American Red Cross. He also volunteers for events such as the Steel Beach Picnic, Café Hope Mentor Program, Edible School Yard New Orleans, St. Michael’s Chef’s Charity, Better Than Ezra Foundation, New Orleans Local Fire Dept., Stanley Brock's Black & Gold Foundation, and many schools and charitable organizations in the New Orleans area.