Justin Fox Burks
Chef Ben Vaughn pictured at his former restaurant Au Fond Farmtable in Cooper-Young.
Chef Ben Vaughn of former Cooper-Young restaurants Grace and Au Fond Farmtable has a new gig on the Food Network. Vaughn is the host of the network's upcoming series called “Health Inspectors” premiering October 26. Here's how the press release explains Vaughn's new show:
“Restaurant consultant Ben Vaughn lends his expertise to restaurants across the country in desperate need of a health upgrade in the new series Health Inspectors, premiering Friday, October 26, at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT. Ben uses his years of experience in the restaurant industry to assess kitchens from top to bottom, leaving no stone, or stove, unturned.
“From high-end restaurants to small cafés, Ben holds the owners and staff accountable for the messes they’ve made and shows them what they need to do to pass inspection and stay in business.”
Wow. That's what I call a career change. In the first episode, Vaughn tackles “Rats in the Cellar” at Salud in Chicago, then moves on in subsequent shows to “Slugs in the Walk-in” at Harley's in Oklahoma and “Recipe for Disaster” at O'Donnell's in Louisiana.
Vaughn is now living in Atlanta where he is the culinary director and executive chef for Brewed to Serve Restaurant Group and White Oak Kitchen & Cocktails, according to the press release. I'll be speaking with Vaughn next week, so check back for more details on his trajectory from restaurant owner to media star.
