Michael Semancik named executive chef at soon-to-open Oakhurst restaurant Scout

Chef Michael Semancik / Photo by Heather Scott

Credit: Yvonne Zusel

Credit: Yvonne Zusel

Chef Michael Semancik / Photo by Heather Scott

Southern cuisine restaurant Scout has named an executive chef in advance of its opening in Oakhurst later this year .

The move will reunite Michael Semancik, who will serve as both executive chef and partner, with operating partner Chris Martha. The two first worked together when Martha hired Semancik for his first sous chef position at South City Kitchen more than 20 years ago. Most recently, they collaborated as the directors of the food and beverage program at the Georgian Terrace hotel.

Semancik has also served as a chef at New York’s Blue Ribbon Bakery and Mike’s on the Avenue in New Orleans, as well as  Kevin Rathbun's now-shuttered Nava, executive banquet chef at Piedmont Driving Club, executive chef of The Mansion on Forsyth Park in Savannah and executive chef and food and beverage director at the Cliff House Resort and Spa in Ogunquit, Maine.

Scout, which is slated to open later this year after an original projected opening for this summer, will take over the old McGowan's space at 321 W Hill St. in the historic Neel Reid-designed Scottish Rite building, and another large section of the Solarium at Scottish Rite.

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