Executive Chef Scott Crawford

The refinement experienced at The Umstead Hotel and Spa is reflected in every bite of the property’s posh dining experiences including its signature Herons, The Umstead Bar and banquet facilities. That’s due largely to Executive Chef Scott Crawford’s uncanny ability to spin even the smallest of details into culinary gold.

Crawford serves a dual role as The Umstead’s food and beverage director, combining his love of the dining room with his allure in the kitchen. The Pennsylvania native has made a name for himself in the South, cooking across most of the region, blazing a trail of culinary prestige everywhere he’s worked.  Joining The Umstead Hotel and Spa in March 2009, Chef Crawford was most recently the Executive Chef of The Georgian Room at the Cloister Hotel in Sea Island, GA.

Pastry Chef Daniel Benjamin

Daniel Benjamin is celebrated for his creative and modern approach to Southern sweets as Pastry Chef of The Umstead Hotel and Spa, and Herons. Incorporating over ten years of extensive experience in many of the best pastry kitchens in the country to his role as Pastry Chef, Benjamin joined the refined culinary caliber of the North Carolina destination in January 2007 as a member of the pre-opening team.