Chef London
COLUMBIA – Gov. Henry McMaster on Thursday named chefs from Myrtle Beach, Greer, and Charleston to represent South Carolina as 2026 Chef Ambassadors. He was joined by Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers and Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism Director Duane Parrish.
2026 South Carolina Chef Ambassadors
- Jordan Heyd, owner and executive chef of Lekker Eats in Myrtle Beach
- James London, owner and chef of Chubby Fish and Seahorse in Charleston
- Guichard Ulysse, chef and owner of House 509 Bistro & Wine Bar in Greer
Chef Ambassadors represent the state through food festivals and other promotional opportunities, sharing South Carolina’s culinary traditions, agricultural heritage, and undiscovered places with the world. They support our state’s farmers by using Certified South Carolina produce, meats, dairy, seafood, and other farm-fresh foods.
Now in its 12th year, the South Carolina Chef Ambassador program launched in 2014, unifying the major industries of tourism and agriculture, which collectively contribute tens of billions of dollars to the state’s economy and account for hundreds of thousands of jobs statewide.
Chefs are appointed by the Governor, and the program is run through a collaborative effort between the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism (SCPRT) and the South Carolina Department of Agriculture (SCDA).
Learn more about the program and meet past Chef Ambassadors at discoversouthcarolina.com/