Margot McCormack

Margot grew up in Nashville, where she learned to cook alongside her mother. After studying creative writing at the University of Tennessee, she took her first restaurant job at Bennigan’s to support herself. Returning to Nashville after graduation, she began working in the kitchen at Faison’s, where owner Jody Faison encouraged her creativity and introduced her to influential chefs, including Alice Waters. Inspired, Margot trained at the Culinary Institute of America and moved to New York, becoming chef at Danal, a European café where she honed her rustic, seasonal cooking style and gained a dedicated following.

Margot returned to Nashville in 1996 as head chef of F. Scott’s, quickly making a name for herself. In 2001, she opened Margot Café & Bar, which received national recognition. Her style is rooted in French and Southern influences, focusing on seasonal ingredients and simple, bold flavors. Margot lives in East Nashville with her wife Heather, their son Jacob, and their dogs.