Owen McGlynn is the Executive Chef of Asheville Proper and Little D’s, two restaurant concepts in Asheville, NC. Originally from Lakewood, OH, Owen got his start in Bowling Green, where he served in kitchens working several positions while attending Bowling Green State University. Though he was studying business, it was during this time that his passion for cooking truly began to develop. Following his drive to enhance his talents, he moved to Charleston, SC to attend culinary school at Johnson & Wales College of Culinary Arts.
While in the Lowcountry, Owen worked in well-known Southern restaurants in downtown Charleston, including Anson Restaurant and High Cotton. He went on to help with opening the second location of High Cotton in Greenville, SC in 2006, where he served as Sous Chef before relocating to Asheville, NC in 2011 to open Storm Rhum Bar & Bistro with his then girlfriend, Mindi.
Owen and Mindi, now married, opened their dream restaurant, Asheville Proper, in August 2020. For the restaurant, Owen designed a unique wood-burning Argentinean style grill which serves as the focal point of the space as well as the source for his innovative menu creations, which incorporate fire elements in each dish. At Asheville Proper, the culinary team focuses on working with the freshest ingredients from local and regional purveyors to create ever-evolving offerings as the seasons change.
In 2023, Owen and Mindi opened Little D’s, the couples’ second restaurant concept, which is a casual eatery that focuses on seasonal fare and shareable plates, bringing slight sophistication and grand intention into a different neck of the woods. With the menu focused on eating with the seasons, guests can enjoy a selection of rotating dishes and cocktails featuring locally-sourced produce and ingredients, all in a charming and inviting neighborhood spot.
When Owen is not in the kitchen, you can find him golfing in one of Asheville’s many golf courses, enjoying a cigar, or grilling at home with his family.