Chef Bob Waggoner‘s talents have been recognized around the world, in almost every culinary publication. He has received, Wine Spectator’s “Grand Award,” Food & Wine’s “Reader’s Favorite Chef in America Award,” the Distinguished Restaurants of North America Award, Santé magazine’s “1999 Restaurant Wine & Spirits Chef of the Year,” 1999 James Beard Rising Stars of the 21st Century,” an Honorary Doctorate from Johnson and Wales University, and is one of the few Americans to be Knighted with the “l’Odre du Mérite Agricole” from the Government of France. Waggoner has also been featured in Saveur Magazines “100 Favorite Things”, Artisan Books’ Top 50 Chefs in the United States and was invited to participate in the 2002 Winter Olympics Chefs program. Waggoner has been nominated by The Beard Foundation for the Best Chef in the Southeast Award four times.

A California native, he received his formal training with Michael Roberts at Trumps in Los Angeles from 1981 to 1983, and later in France at a constellation of Michelin-rated restaurants with chefs Jacques Lameloise, Charles Barrier, Pierre Gagnaire, Gerard Boyer and Mark Meneau. In 1988 at age 26, in the town of Moneteau in Burgandy, he became the first American chef to own his own restaurant in France, the much-acclaimed Le Monte Cristo.

Returning to America in the late 1990′s Chef Waggoner has quickly gained a reputation as a media-savvy cooking expert, having appeared on “Gourmet Getaways with Robin Leach,” “Great Chefs of the South,” “Ralph Emery Show,” “Dave Eckert’s Culinary Travels,” “Flavors of America,” The Food Network’s “In Food Today,” “Ready, Set, Cook,” and “The Best of.” He also taped a series of segments with television food reporter Burt Wolf, which appeared on The Travel Channel, CNN and PBS stations nationwide. Other accomplishments include an Emmy for his television show “Off the Menu” with Turner South, guest appearances on the The View, The Wheel of Fortune, and “The CBS Morning Show”. Currently, Chef Bob Waggoner hosts Ucook! with Chef Bob airing on PBS affiliates nationwide and soon to be launched Utravel! with Chef Bob which begins airing on PBS affiliates nationwide in the fall of 2013.  Chef Bob joined the Watermark Restaurant team in January 2012 sharing his genius talents and larger-than-life personality!  Make sure to say hello on your next visit in.

Check out Chef Bob’s Website:

Chef Bob Waggoner - “This Ain’t No Disco”

Check out his show -  Ucook! with Chef Bob: