Chef Scott McGee

Scott Thomas McGehee was born in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and raised in Little Rock. As a boy, he was inspired to be a cook by both his great-grandmother Ruby Thomas, (of the Red Apple Inn), and his father, Frank McGehee, (Blue Mesa Grill, Juanita’s). After attending the University of Arkansas, Scott was an honors graduate of the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, followed by a position as line chef, at Alice Waters’s famed Chez Panisse restaurant in Berkeley, California. In 1999, Scott returned to Little Rock, and in October of 2000 opened Boulevard Bread Company – a gourmet bakery, delicatessen, and café that quickly became a beloved Little Rock institution, recognized as one of the city’s top restaurants in the September 2002 issue of Southern Living magazine. In 2004 and 2006 Scott opened River Market and UAMS Medical Center locations of Boulevard Bread Company. Scott opened ZaZa Fine Salad & Wood Oven Pizza Company in Little Rock, 2007, then ZaZa Conway, Big Orange Burgers, Salads, & Shakes, (West and Midtown Little Rock locations and a Rogers Arkansas location), Local Lime Tacos and Margaritas, (West Little Rock and Rogers Arkansas Locations), Lost 40 Brewing, and Heights Taco & Tamale.Since returning from California, over the last 20 years, Scott and his team have opened 6 concepts with a total of 13 locations— that are all still operating successfully and with passion and excitement. Over this time Scott and his team have won over 400 “Best of” Arkansas Times awards including Scott being a multi-year winner of the prestigious “Best Chef” award. With his partners and work family, Scott aspires to continue to follow his passion to develop and open new and exciting gourmet inspired restaurants. He is equally passionate in his pursuit to be strongly connected and supportive of local farmers and farm families, supportive of local businesses, creative people, and always heavily engaged with important philanthropic causes in Arkansas, and with Chef Jose Andres and his “World Central Kitchen” organization with ongoing disaster relief work.