Chef Scott Crawford Leaves Umstead, Opens Two Restaurants

Chef Scott Crawford, the James Beard-nominated executive chef at the five star and AAA diamond-rated Umstead Hotel in Carey, North Carolina since 2009, has announced that he will be leaving his position to forms his own hospitality group and open up two new restaurants in Raleigh, North Carolina. Crawford has partnered with John Holmes of Hobby Properties to open up two new restaurants: Standard Foods and Nash Tavern under Nash Square Hospitality Group. Standard Foods, opening this fall, is a restaurant/grocery store hybrid featuring progressive Southern food that is supposed to set the standard for food in Raleigh. Nash Tavern, a modern American restaurant, will follow in 2015.

"I'm proud of my accomplishments in fine dining at luxury properties over the last two decades, and feel especially privileged to have been able to shape such a talented team at The Umstead," said Crawford in a statement. "I'm excited to build on my own ideas – from the ground up – and to pursue concepts that I think are particularly relevant and integral to our community."

Standard Foods, opening in the early fall, will feature modern twists on Southern comfort foods, like chilled strawberry soup with yuzu and jalapeno, fried rabbit with succotash, and pork cheeks with pickled peppers and apricot mustard.

Joanna Fantozzi is an Associate Editor with The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @JoannaFantozzi