As the owner of Destin Florida’s Cuvee Bistro restaurant, Grill Plus Instant Marinade, and the Great Events Center, Chef Tim Creehan is living the dream. Born in Hartford, Connecticut, and spending most of his childhood and young adult life in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, he discovered his calling at a very young age. He possesses a zest for life, extraordinary talent, an enormous joy in sharing his love for cooking with others and a commitment to giving back. He is a Certified Executive Chef, author, teacher, inventor, a dynamic entertainer and a steward of his community.

Creehan’s impressive career in the culinary arts began at Steak & Ale in Baton Rouge when he was only 14 years old. Two years later, the pursuit of excellence led him to serve as Executive Chef at Joey’s. Studying under Executive Chef Philippe Parola and then working side-by-side with John Folse, he progressed to the position of Executive Chef at Lafitte’s Landing in Donaldsonville, Louisiana at the ripe age of 19. He is currently working with Chef Parola in support of the Asian Carp Invasion Solution.

 

Unwavering standards have taken Creehan to various locations across the globe. In 1984, he participated in the American Harvest Promotion at the Hong Kong Hilton for a two-week guest chef appearance. He traveled to Tokyo with his mentor Philippe Parola to cook at FOODEX, the largest international food show in the world, where he prepared a special luncheon for Thomas Foley, then ambassador to Japan. Steadfast dedication led Creehan to Ralph & Kacoo’s Seafood Restaurant where he served as Corporate Executive Chef. Then, as Consulting Chef for Delta Pride and Country Skillet Catfish, a Con-Agra Company, he was instrumental in recipe creation, food styling, and product development.

 

In 1992, The American Culinary Foundation named Chef Creehan as one of the “youngest and most accomplished Certified Executive Chefs in the United States.” In 1999, Cooking Light’s Grandstand ’99 selected Creehan as “one of five chefs in the United States to be honored as a Shining Star Chef.” As part of this honor, he demonstrated dishes in front of thousands at Turner Field in Atlanta. In late 2003 at the DiRoNA International Conference, Creehan spoke on a panel to discuss marketing strategies in the industry. In early 2004, Creehan was selected as one of five “Celebrated Chefs” to represent the National Pork Council at various events nationwide. Creehan is also a published author of three cookbooks, “Flavors of the Gulf Coast” (1992), “Simple Cuisine” (2004), and “Exceptional Taste, Tales & Recipes” (2010).

 

In 1998, Creehan opened Beach Walk, which has since relocated to the Henderson Park Inn. Prior to establishing Beach Walk, Creehan served as Executive Chef and founding partner of Destin’s award-winning Marina Café for ten years. In 2007, Creehan reopened Copper Grill, and soon after, opened Bluz Grill & Bar. Not surprisingly, he has been voted Best Chef on the Emerald Coast six years in a row, paving the way for various upscale catering gigs such as the SeaRay Yacht 50th Anniversary show, and the wedding reception of recording artists Amy Grant and Vince Gill. In May of 2010, Creehan reopened another local hotspot as Cuvee Bistro in Destin, which has since won numerous awards, including a 2011 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence.

 

Commonly dubbed Destin’s own “celebrity chef”, Creehan regularly appears on various television shows, including as host of the Emerald Coast Chefs series. He’s also personally cooked for a slew of high profile celebrities, including Bruce Willis, Jessica Simpson, Rachel Hunter, Debra Winger, Cybill Shepherd, and Timothy Hutton. Most recently, he served as special chef at the Entertainment Tonight/Getty Images/Gibson Guitar Lodge during the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, where he dished up delicacies for the likes of Matthew Broderick, Danny Glover, and Alan Rickman.

 

Featured on dozens of “On the Menu” cooking shows throughout the Southeast, Creehan was named Host on Beach TV’s Emerald Coast Chefs in 2007, appearing regularly throughout the year in various markets including Panama City Beach, Destin, Fort Walton and Pensacola. The Tourist Network, producers of Beach TV, created another new series that launched in December 2007. Creehan hosts the new Chef Show, which showcases America’s most popular celebrity chefs in the country’s most fascinating destination cities and resorts, including Belgian born Master Chef Daniel Joly at Mirabella in Beaver Creek, Chad Robinson at Foster’s Wine Estates with Beringer Corporate Chef David Frakes, and Luis Pous at Little Palm Island Resort in the Florida Keys.

In addition to performing live, Creehan’s award-winning recipes have been featured on Emeril Lagasse’s TV show and in publications such as Sysco’s Menus Today, Restaurant Business, Cheers, Florida Living, and Cooking Light. Sea Ray Living, Ford Times and Bon Appetit publications have highlighted his career as well. In 2001, Country Weekly magazine featured a dish Creehan created for recording artist Tammy Cochran’s hit song “Angels in Waiting”. Cochran returned the favor by inviting him to accompany her at the 35th Annual Country Music Awards.

When it comes to sharing his love for the culinary arts, Creehan is on a joyful mission that has produced exceptional culinary tools. He created another tool in 1997; Chef’s Grill Plus® is a patented non-stick instant marinade. “In the beginning, there was ketchup, mayonnaise and mustard,” Creehan muses. “Grill Plus is the fourth condiment.”

 

Tim has instructed middle school students in the All Kinds of Art Culinary program and donated his time, food and talents for many charitable organizations such as Alzheimer’s Family Services, Inc., SOS, the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society, to name a few. Tim’s unfaltering energy and passion for the culinary arts along with his natural teaching talents are manifest in his cooking classes, his vanguard dining experiences, and the high esteem his peers hold for him.

 

Tim Creehan lives in Destin, Florida where he enjoys sailing and exploring the journey of simplifying his life and his career.