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filler@godaddy.com
A native of Nashville, Chef Will Gray was born and raised with deep southern roots. His passion for cooking began at a young age watching his grandfather smoke meats and grill for large family functions. Soon after he was taking over creating new family heirloom recipes of his own. During Chef Will’s time at MTSU, while pursuing a degree in journalism, the call of the kitchen came again. Wanting to learn all aspects of a professional kitchen, Chef Will took a job learning how to butcher from farm to table and then went on to advancing his cooking skills on the line. He knew he had found his true calling and went all in on honing his culinary skills.
While working his way through the ranks of many legendary establishments in Nashville; HEI Hotels,,Tomkats Restaurant Group, and The Hutton Hotel. Chef Will was also a visiting chef running the prestigious Magnolia Kitchen at The Masters in Augusta, GA. He continued to perfect his take on southern cuisine and found his home at the helm of POP Hospitality as their Corporate Chef. Chef Will was featured at the 2016 Taste of Music City Festival partnering with Michelin rated chef Chris Anderson to open the new restaurant concept inside the Hutton Hotel. Chef Will was also featured at the 2017 Taste of Music City Festival and the 2020 Taste of Hendersonville festival.
After opening the brand new Southern Comfort Restaurant in Gatlinburg, TN, Chef Will would be forced to leave the kitchen due to an unfortunate Cancer diagnosis. While fighting Leukemia, he would use this time to grow as a person and as a chef. During his treatments in 2021 the Hot Like Sauce BBQ Company was born. Chef Will would spend the next 2 years building the concept and hosting pop-ups and catering events in the area as his health would allow. Now in 2024 we are happy to announce we are bringing Hot Like Sauce BBQ to the masses, in the form of the Pop-up, Catering Company, and a chef collaboration partner.
Being a true Southern chef means everything to Chef Will and he takes great pride in knowing his local farmers and where his ingredients come from. You will often see Chef Will chatting at the local farmers market or with farmers walking in the back door of his kitchen. He combines the freshest components with the traditions and techniques that make the South special in creating memorable meals. Whether Chef Gray is braising, smoking, grilling, pickling or preserving something, you know it is honoring the Southern customs he holds close to his heart.