James Beard Foundation Best Chef, Southeast Semifinalist – 2008, 2009, 2013 & 2018
Springer Mountain Farms Celebrate the Chef Award, 2017
The Nashville Scene Best Restaurant, 2005-2010
CHEF/OWNER MARGOT MCCORMACK
Margot spent Saturday mornings as a little girl in the kitchen with her mother. She loved cooking, eating and spending time with her mom.
As a student at UT Knoxville, Margot’s first professional cooking job was as a line cook at Bennigan’s. Upon graduation with a BA in English, Margot moved back to Nashville to pursue a creative writing career but instead found herself back in the kitchen working for local restaurateur Jody Faison at his very popular restaurant Faison’s. Jody encouraged her to be creative and introduced her to the work of Alice Waters. Motivated by her experience at Faison’s, Margot enrolled in the culinary arts program at the Culinary Institute of America. After completing the 21 month program Margot set her sights on New York City where she became the chef at Danal, a quaint European café in the East Village. There she embraced the food and culture of France. Her ideas about cooking began to take shape as she honed her skills and developed her style.
In 1995 Margot returned home and became the Executive chef at F. Scott’s. Over the next five years she reacquainted herself with the Nashville dining community and they embraced her vision of fresh, simple food prepared well. In 2001 she left to pursue her dream of opening her own restaurant. Margot’s philosophy on food and cooking is inspired by the French culture, based on seasonality and the very best locally sourced ingredients. Margot is not looking to reinvent food but to reintroduce it in a personal and accessible way.
DESTIN WEISHAAR, General Manager
HADLEY LONG, Executive Chef
Destin grew up in a village in rural Illinois and came to Nashville to attend Trevecca Nazarene University. While singing with various groups in college, he had the opportunity to travel all over the United States and Europe, staying with families he didn’t know along the way. That hospitality from strangers made an impact on him.
After graduating in 1999, Destin settled in the East Nashville neighborhood. Already a veteran service industry professional, he joined the Margot Cafe & Bar family in 2004 as a server/bartender and has served as GM for the last decade. Destin brings a very personal, involved and often humorous touch to hospitality. He believes the success of the restaurant comes from a combination of great food, attentive service, and distinct personality.
When not manning the door of the restaurant, Destin enjoys biking, singing with and serving on the board of local performing arts group Portara Ensemble, and spending time with his dog Queso.
Hadley Long is a native Nashvillian who was classically trained in Washington D.C. at L’academie de Cuisine.
He first came to the Margot Family as an extern at Marche Artisan Foods. He quickly rose through the ranks and has been recently promoted to Executive Chef here at Margot Cafe & Bar.
Over the years, Hadley has shown personal & professional evolution, in & out of the kitchen, and has made many friends along the way. He believes that simplicity and respect for ingredients forms a solid foundation for the creation of countless dishes. He seeks to present his personal perspective and ideas through the Margot Cafe lens.