Donny King has been cooking in the Hampton Roads area since 1989. A Summer job quickly turned into a full year occupation. His career started when he became Sous Chef of Five-01 City Grill upon its opening in 1992. In ’96, Donny moved to a Manteo, NC to become Chef of 1587 Restaurant in the Tranquil House Inn. There Chef King appealed to a national audience and received much recognition in magazines as well as on the television. In March of 2002, Donny bought Ocean Boulevard Bistro & Martini Bar, where he is currently the General Manager/Owner and can often be found working in the kitchen and cooking for special events. Donny and his team have been presented awards at many of the local charities and fundraisers including the 2009 March of Dimes Star Chef Event and the 2009 “Duck in Duck” competition, and quite a few Chowder Cookoffs.
Michael Thomas is a rare creative talent. Michael blends flavors of the mid-east as well as the Mediterranean with classic European cuisine to create bold, yet refined, flavors. Spending much of his culinary career working in resort towns in Western North Carolina, he has sharply honed his skills before moving to the Outer Banks in 2001. Michael attributes his harmony with exotic ingredients partly to the education he received from a Lebanese Chef during a five year stint in Blowing Rock, NC. Using fresh local ingredients from little-known sources on the Outer Banks, he creates dishes that are as tasteful as they are exciting and new. Mr. Thomas’ most recent accomplishment was first place in the wine and food pairing competition “Duck in Duck” which benefits the local Community Fund.
Tim Gard is a Dare County native from Mann’s Harbor, NC who has contributed to the local foodservice industry since he was fifteen years old, in 1999. Tim’s first kitchen experience was at 1587 Restaurant in Manteo, where he produced food for special occasion diners and cooking enthusiasts. He has a penchant for true Southern food and also enjoys preparing Classic French Cuisine as well as unique foods from all over the world. Diners find that Tim’s food is creative, yet grounded, and shows the integrity of a chef who has grown in the field, behind the stove, for more than a decade. Mr. Gard has been cooking at Ocean Boulevard since 2004 and is an integral part of the culinary team. Tim has participated in many local fundraising events and has received first place awards at more than one chowder cookoff.