Our Background

Epic Flavor's Story

Epic Flavor is a culmination of Chef Slade’s 38 years in the hospitality industry and a vision to create exquisite culinary memories personally. Growing up in the Middle East allowed me to spend considerable time exploring cultures, customs, and cuisines in many countries.

Chef Slade began his culinary journey in a small fine-dining restaurant in Columbia, S.C., as a dishwasher and, within three years, was the establishment's head chef. A recommendation from renowned chef Donald Berickman (Magnolias of Charleston) paved the way for his education at the Culinary Institute of America. Upon graduation in 1992, Chef Slade relocated to Baltimore, Maryland, studying and honing his craft under the tutelage of Hungarian Certified Master Chef Bank Szerenyi at the Johns Hopkins University Club.

After 14 years in Baltimore, the chef spread his wings and moved to Scottsdale, Arizona, where he assumed the executive chef role of an off-premise catering agency whose clients included the Arizona Cardinals and the American Music Awards Green Room in Las Vegas.

Returning to the East Coast and Coastal Virginia, Chef has spent the past 20 years developing his personal style and mentoring others in the culinary arts. His experience in the culinary world shifted in 2018 when he assumed the role of Food and Beverage Director at the Founders Inn and Spa. The challenging four years that ensued exposed Chef to the client-facing side of the industry and allowed him to cultivate a more versatile understanding of event management and customer relationships.