Meet the chef, Scott Crawford who joined The Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary, NC in March 2009 as Executive Chef of the property's signature restaurant, Herons, and entire Food and Beverage program. Chef Crawford most recently was the Executive Chef of The Georgian Room at the Cloister Hotel in Sea Island, GA where he earned the coveted Five Star Award from Mobil Travel Guide. There, Crawford's modern Southern-inspired cuisine received critical praise; Esquire Magazine named it "Best New Restaurant". He also attained the Five Star distinction in his previous position of Executive Chef at Woodlands Resort in Summerville, SC.

Crawford's extraordinarily refined American cuisine is a study in both comfort and elegance. A master at pairing unexpected flavors, applying modern techniques with integrity, and exercising precision to brighten each ingredient's flavor and purpose, Crawford achieves intensity and excitement in each seductive dish. He deftly translates local, seasonal ingredients and classic ideas for a contemporary palate; the result - a sophisticated and artful farm-to-table dining experience.