KNOXVILLE—Chef and restaurant owner Tim Love, a 1994 graduate of the Haslam College of Business, returned to campus on Wednesday, Feb. 11, to talk with students about entrepreneurship and to receive an Accomplished Alumnus Award.
Love’s career as a chef began at the Kiva Grill in Knoxville while he was attending the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. A self-taught chef, he worked his way up to running the kitchen. After stops at the Knoxville Radisson (now the Crowne Plaza), and the Uptown Bistro in Frisco, Colorado, he moved to Texas.
Love opened his flagship restaurant, Lonesome Dove Western Bistro, in Fort Worth’s historic Stockyards district in 2000. He extended his presence in the Stockyards when he bought the legendary White Elephant Saloon in 2002 and then again in 2007 with his classic burger joint, Love Shack. Tim’s culinary empire expanded in 2012 with the opening of the Woodshed Smokehouse, which was named one of Bon Appétit’s “50 Best New Restaurants” in 2012. He returned to his hometown of Denton, Texas, in 2013 to open Queenie’s Steakhouse.
A defacto ambassador of Texas, Love is known as much for his freewheeling personality as for his signature urban western cuisine and quick business sense. He is a national spokesperson for Hellmann’s Mayonnaise and Thomas’ English Muffins and serves as host of CNBC’s Restaurant Startup. He has been a featured culinary talent on Top Chef: The Cruise and appeared on NBC’s TODAY show and Good Morning America. Love also has been featured in the New York Times, Food & Wine, Bon Appétit, the Wall Street Journal and Men’s Health.
Stephen L. Mangum, dean and Stokely Foundation Leadership Chair of the Haslam College of Business, presented Love with the Accomplished Alumnus Award prior to the chef addressing students in the Introduction to Entrepreneurship class. While at UT, Love also spoke to a second class, visited with Boyd Venture Fund recipients, and spoke to the Collegiate Entrepreneurship Organization, a student club.
The Accomplished Alumni program recognizes notable alumni for their success and distinction within their field. A variety of outstanding alumni have been featured through this program including CEOs of major corporations, Olympians, authors, artists, musicians, United States Ambassadors and civic leaders.
C O N T A C T:
Brooks Clark (865-974-5471, nclark5@utk.edu)
