Shawn Ashmead is a South Florida native with a big family, and an even bigger love for food, travel, and creativity. He studied at Johnson & Wales University and has worked at some seriously impressive spots like The General Muir, Wrecking Bar, Cherokee Town and Country Club, and The Breakers of Palm Beach.

Being the youngest in a large family taught Shawn a lot about teamwork and patience—skills that definitely come in handy in the kitchen. Outside of work, he’s all about exploring new places and experiences. Some of his favorite adventures so far include wandering around Amsterdam and hiking five days through Peru to reach Machu Picchu.

His bucket list still has a few big items waiting to be checked off: heading back to the Netherlands, visiting Alenia, and finally making it to San Diego Comic-Con.

When he’s not cooking or traveling, Shawn leans into his nerdy side—building LEGO sets, reading comic books, and digging through vinyl bins. His music taste is just as eclectic, with favorites like Mac Miller, Thundercat, SZA, MF DOOM, Jagged Edge, A Tribe Called Quest, and Kid Cudi always on rotation.

If he were a cartoon character, he says he’d be The Brain from Animaniacs—because, just like The Brain, he’s always plotting to take over the world.

A perfect day off for Shawn means getting outside for a hike with his dog, snapping some photos, or taking an art class just to unwind and keep the inspiration flowing.