Executive Chef Tarver King

Renowned for this historic and romantic region's most celebrated dining, Woodlands Resort & Inn today introduced Tarver King as executive chef of its award winning dining room. King assumes this position having served as the chef de cuisine since 2004 at the Mobil Five-Star, AAA Five Diamond restaurant.

"Tarver has been the backbone of The Dining Room's culinary team for the past two years, "says Marty Wall, Woodlands Resort & Inn's general manager. "His enthusiasm and passion for his craft is evident as he lends his artistic touch to each dish that flows from his kitchen. He shares our appreciation for delicate dishes filled with deeply infused flavors, a Woodlands trademark since its opening."

A native of Virginia, Chef King began cooking at the age of 15 inspired by his grandmother, Tatiana McKenna, the recipes editor for Vogue in the 1960's. His quest to develop his own style of cooking took him to some of America's greatest kitchens. He performed stages at the French Laundry, Le Bec Fin, and Roy's in Philadelphia before landing at The Inn at Little Washington in 2002. It was there that he entered the world of renowned chef Patrick O'Connell. He served as Chef de Partie at the Five-Star, Five Diamond restaurant gaining a fondness for "comfort" foods utilizing the best ingredients from the farmers in the surrounding Virginia countryside. He moved on to the Hurricane at Perkins Cove in Ogunquit, Maine before returning to the sunny south and Woodlands Resort & Inn in 2004.

King promises to satisfy the most discriminating gourmet. "The elegance of The Dining Room, our gracious wait staff, and the interplay of the taste and texture of each dish will insure our guests have an unforgettable culinary experience," offers Chef King. "I want my food to succeed on every level, from the ingredients selected to the visual appeal of the prepared dish to the positive response we get from our guests."