Chef Chuck Hayworth
From my earliest days of growing up in Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina, I am reminded of the true meaning of Southern Hospitality while huddled over a stove with my Nana. I also enjoyed learning from Georgia, my mother’s dear friend who helped her with raising a household of three boys. Throughout my childhood, I was privileged to enjoy the meals prepared by these two great ladies as well as a handful of others that have inspired me during some very difficult times.
As I grew old enough to shape my own flavor profiles, I traveled around the South and wound up in the most unlikely of places. I tried ignoring the passion for food, flavors, seasonality, and love, but it took a hold on me. During my high school years I enjoyed taking photos of foods being cooked, sports, and community events. I became active in the Young Life Ministries where I truly began discovering flavors and developing my own pallet. It was by volunteering for service through this organization that I truly developed a love for this great Industry. I started reading cook books in my free time, all along ignoring the pleas of friends to continue my education and further develop my silent passion. I attended community college and worked for a well known hotel company as well as a great restaurant group in the region before having a revelation: I wanted to go to culinary school.
Shortly after that revelation, an opportunity came my way I could not ignore. An opportunity to start over. The setting was Johnson & Wales University in Miami, Florida. This is where I received my Associates Degree in Culinary Arts. I loved all that Miami had to offer, especially the different Latin flavors and all of the fresh citrus and vegetation. At this time I was also struggling with various medical problems associated with major stomach cancer surgery. I did not let this get in the way; I was determined to finish my schooling and open a restaurant of my own! I transferred after graduation to the Charleston, SC campus of JWU to be closer to my doctors; this is where I received my Bachelors Degree in Food Service Management. I did this while working at some of the finest culinary operations in the Lowcountry.
This is also the time in my life, while overcoming health obstacles and hurdles, when I met my soul mate Aileen. She shares to this day a common love of this business and all of its wonderful flavors. We chose Raleigh Durham as our home and have not looked back. It was here that I have worked for a major private club in Raleigh as well as run production at two of our areas major universities. Over the past several years, Aileen and I have developed recipes as personal chefs and caterers.
It is with great passion that we introduce Research Triangle Park to our flavors in the form of Worth It Café. It will be my great privilege to serve you and your families. Our web site will hopefully demonstrate an ease of ordering, our commitment to seasonality, and our focus on community service. I look forward to bringing our passion to life in the café. Most of all, I look forward to bringing the flavors of True Southern Hospitality to your table, just as those who shaped me into a chef brought it to mine.
