Meet the Team
Tyler Slade
Executive Chef | Bargello & District 42
As the Executive Chef for Bargello & District 42, Tyler Slade is the mastermind behind the creation and execution of both restaurant’s menus and seasonal offerings, utilizing Asheville’s abundance of fresh produce to craft delicious dishes that keep guests coming back time and time again. Before joining Bargello & District 42 in 2021, he spent six years as Sous Chef at Posana in Asheville, preceded by his time in Beaufort, South Carolina, where he opened 3 Sisters Pizzeria and 10 Market, a chef’s kitchen which received local recognition including Best Overall Restaurant, Best Fine Dining, and Best Chef. In addition to his recipes being featured in ‘Shrimp, Collards & Grits’ Magazine and line of coffee table books, Chef Slade was named the ‘Third Best Chef in the South’ by South Magazine in 2019. He graduated from the New England Culinary Institute in 2009 with a Bachelor’s in Culinary Arts.
Rakim Gaines
Executive Chef | Capella on 9
Serving up unparalleled passion, creativity and talent, Executive Chef Rakim Gaines is the culinary mastermind behind the delicious dishes and seasonal menu offerings at Capella on 9, AC Hotel Asheville Downtown’s ninth-floor rooftop bar and restaurant. An Asheville native, Chef Rakim’s interest in the culinary arts started at a young age as he watched his mother cook soul food, including fried pork chops and Mississippi pot roast, and honed his skills volunteering and preparing food at a local hibachi restaurant at just nine-years-old. After stints in various kitchens around Asheville, including The Lobster Trap and Corner Kitchen, Chef Rakim joined the team at Capella on 9 and AC Hotel Asheville Downtown as Sous Chef in 2017 before his well-deserved promotion to Executive Chef in 2018. Inspired by the flavors of his childhood and incorporating locally grown and sourced ingredients, Chef Rakim and his culinary creations have been lauded in notable outlets including Southern Living, Eater and more.
Austin Tisdale
Executive Chef | Wildwood Still
Chef Austin Tisdale is the culinary mastermind behind the scenes at Wildwood Still. A true epicurean explorer with a knack for crafting flavor-layered dishes, Chef Austin has been a fixture in the Asheville culinary scene since 1996, melding his French training with his southern roots and holding positions at beloved local favorites like The Grove Park Inn, Bargello, Bouchon French Bistro, Lexington Avenue Brewery and more. Fellow adventurers may even have been lucky enough to white water raft with him during the five summers he spent working as a white water rafting guide on the French Broad River north of Asheville.
He’s brought that adventurous spirit into the kitchen and Wildwood Still, where he combines his passion for flavor with a flair for innovation, crafting dishes that surprise and delight foodies and comfort food lovers alike. When he's not making sure his kitchen is running like a finely tuned instrument, you can find him enjoying downtime with his wife and kids, or cheering on his beloved futbol team, Liverpool.
Brandon Maynard
Director of Beverage & Food | Capella on 9
Passionate about creating memorable dining experiences, Brandon serves as Beverage & Food Director for Capella on 9, the award-winning rooftop restaurant and bar atop the AC Hotel Asheville Downtown. With a commitment to exceptional hospitality, innovative food and beverage programming, and team development, Brandon oversees every aspect of the guest experience—from thoughtfully curated menus and handcrafted cocktails to attentive service and memorable special events.