About Chef Tony

Chef Tony Nicholas is the Chef/Owner of THE HUNGRY OWL a Southern and Creole influenced restaurant with catering. The restaurant is located in Mobile, Alabama, where Tony uses his love for the Gulf Coast to fuel his creativeness and passion for cooking. He was born on September 1, 1976 and raised in Mobile, Alabama. Chef spent years working in various restaurants while obtaining a business degree from the University of Mobile. He also graduated Magna Cum Laude from Johnson & Wales Culinary School in Charlotte, North Carolina in 2006.

Prior to opening his first restaurant, Chef Tony worked for Emeril Lagasse at his restaurant, Emeril’s Gulf Coast Fish House, inside the Island View Casino, where in his role as saucier, he gained extreme respect for utilizing the freshest ingredients while staying true to the Gulf Coast.

In November 2008 THE HUNGRY OWL EATERY opened. The unique moniker came to Chef/Owner, Tony Nicholas, while doing research for a concept for a new restaurant/catering business. In this research Chef used personal preferences to help create the concept. In this particular case, the fact that his wife loved owls & the particular owl that the concept was named after is native to the Gulf Coast led to the name. The owl was the Barred Owl, also known as the Hoot Owl, Swamp Owl, Striped Owl, etc… In the study of this particular owl, he discovered that the owl had a very interesting dialogue at times. You see, the owl was best known for his call or “hoot”, which was actually a series of 8 hoots that is always characterized by the phrase “WHO COOKS FOR YOU, WHO COOKS FOR YOU ALL.” This owl was also very well known to be active in the daytime unlike a lot of owls. So with all of these things combined the name just fit.

The Hungry Owl was featured on Man vs. Food, where Adam Richmond Tackled the Ultimate Stuffed Tony Burger which launched its national exposure. The Owl has also been featured on 101 best burgers in the USA and The Chowdown Countdown on The Travel Channel!

To contact Chef Tony please email [email protected] or visit the website at www.thehungryowl.com , he is also available for private consultations by appointment and can be reached at 251-340-2522 or by e-mail at the address above.