Meet Oliver Royale Executive Chef Darin Hoagland!
Last month we introduced Executive Chef Darin Hoagland on our Instagram and Facebook, and in true Oliver fam fashion - the welcome was enthusiastic and warm! Chef Darin is far from a new face at Oliver Royale. In fact, he started with the Oliver team in 2017 and in 2020 was promoted to Executive Chef! You may catch a glimpse of Chef Darin if you’re dining in, but most days he’s leading the charge in the back of the house - so instead, we’re bringing him to you!
We sat down with Chef Darin to learn more about his background, hobbies, and things that he values most in his career. Without further ado...here’s our interview with Chef!
Our Interview with Chef Darin Hoagland
Q: Chef, how long have you been in the industry?
I started in 2003 and trained under Chef Saucy from Cafe Maxx for 6 years! I started from the bottom and worked my way up to Sous Chef. I learned a ton from Chef Saucy - a German Chef that specialized in classical French cuisine with Caribbean influence.
Q: What has your journey been like since entering the culinary scene?
After leaving Cafe Maxx, I spent my first few years at a fine dining Italian restaurant - Bistro Mezzaluna before transitioning to the Riverside Hotel in Ft.Lauderdale. I spent 4 years at Riverside - one of the oldest hotels in Ft. Lauderdale! I’m originally from Central Valley, California but my move across the country to South Florida was where I began my culinary journey. And now, Knoxville, TN!
Q: Chef, what is your vision for Oliver Royale?
I was fortunate enough to step into a restaurant culture that values pushing creative boundaries and innovating. My vision for Olvier is to bring back classics with a bit of a modern twist while staying loyal to the heavy southern roots that Knoxville and Royale take pride in. I’m excited to bring a Caribbean flare to Knoxville's downtown cuisine as well as a heavier seafood presence to the menu.
I also love collaborating with our entire staff to create our seasonal menus. The collaborations extend beyond our doors too! We’re always actively and intentionally building relationships with our local farmers, butchers, mixologists, distilleries and breweries.
We believe in supporting local businesses and hopefully, in the process, investing in our community’s growth.
Q: What are some fun facts our readers may not know about you?
Well for one, I really take pride in mentoring my team. I enjoy teaching them my techniques and making sure that new and up and coming cooks and chefs understand the importance of vision. I was given the opportunity to be mentored and it holds a special place in my heart to be able to pay this forward in the new generation of culinary passionate people.
I’m also an avid trout fisher, foodie, and I try to be outdoors as much as possible. It’s actually one of the reasons I like Knoxville so much...I get all 4 seasons! Being in-tune with nature and connected to our local agricultural community challenges me and also allows me to have fun while creating our seasonal menus.
A big thank you to Chef Darin for this interview.
Stay tuned for our Spring 2021 menu launching March 24th! In the meantime, we’d love for you to dine with us M-Th 4PM - 10PM, Friday 10AM - 10PM, and Saturday/Sunday 9AM - 10PM.