Chef of the Month: Stuart Donald, Greer's Saint Louis Market
Name: Stuart Reb Donald
Name of Business: Greer's Saint Louis Market
Restaurant Address: 260 Saint Louis Street Mobile, AL 36602
Where were you born and raised?
Mobile, AL.
What inspired you to become a chef?
I actually started out as a professional musician but to pay the bills I would work in restaurants and before long my creative flow shifted from guitar to spatula.
Where did you train to become a chef?
Kitchens across the South.
What does your typical workday involve?
Hectic. Not only do I have to set up and maintain a hot bar of scratch cooked food but at the same time handle a cooked to order grill.
Who are the most noteworthy people you’ve cooked for?
I used to live in Nashville so there are a lot of country stars like Trisha Yearwood, Vince Gill, and Amy Grant. But to me the most notable are the giants of my own field like chef John Folse and Food Network's Simon Majumdar.
What are your professional goals as a chef and restaurateur?
I am at a point in my career where I feel I have achieved, to varying degrees, the goals of my youth. Today I just simply want to cook the best food that I can whenever I get the chance to cook. Anything else that comes with that is just frosting on the cake.
What are your favorite hobbies?
I am an avid outdoorsman. I love to go fishing, camping, and hiking. I also love college football. War eagle!
If you won the lottery, how would you spend your winnings?
I would try to buy my own mountain. I could put a cabin on it and then a fishing pond. I'd be camping all the time. Also, some new workshoes.
What’s your favorite seafood dish to serve up for yourself and your family?
Raw oysters!
What makes Alabama Gulf Seafood special?
The bounty of the selection. So many delicious creatures all living in one unbelievable ecosystem.