OUR STORY
Chef Tom Gray is one of North Florida’s most lauded and respected chefs, with two James Beard Award nominations as well as countless awards and accolades. He began his career in his hometown of Jacksonville at the age of 15 at a local country club, with culinary school at the Culinary Institute of America and professional work in New York City, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Napa Valley to follow. Today, Gray shares his time between his two restaurants, Moxie Kitchen + Cocktails and Town Hall, both of which are operated under the umbrella of his hospitality management and consulting company, CuliVino.
Moxie Kitchen + Cocktails celebrated its fifth anniversary in 2018 and brings local flair to the Town Center area of Jacksonville as the only full-service, locally-owned restaurant with an award-winning, sustainably sourced menu, creative cocktails, professional service, and unique two-story design. Featuring outdoor patios, open kitchen, and urban rustic appeal, Moxie is fun dining at its finest and a perfect meeting spot for any gathering, large or small.
Debuting in 2017, Town Hall is a community spot for sharing good food and good drink in good company. Located in the heart of historic San Marco, the casual-chic spot is the perfect place for dinner or Sunday brunch. Town Hall offers a full selection of creative cocktails and wines from around the world to complement the seasonally inspired menu and contemporary design aesthetic.
Long known as a leader in the region’s sustainable sourcing movement, Gray and his teams use as many local, organic, natural, and sustainable ingredients as possible, serving the best herbs and vegetables, meats, fish, and cheeses as part of Gray’s “full-circle approach” and business philosophy.
In addition to his two James Beard nominations, Gray has been voted many times as Jacksonville’s “Best Chef” in various regional publications. He appeared in Tastemade’s The Grill Iron series, which also aired on The Cooking Channel, and was a featured guest on Public Radio International’s Whad’Ya Know show with Michael Feldman. Moxie Kitchen + Cocktails earned Florida Trend’s Golden Spoon Award in 2014 for Best New Northeast Florida Restaurant and remains on their annual Golden Spoon list. Additionally, Moxie was awarded the prestigious American Institute of Architects Florida “People’s Choice” statewide design award in 2016. Town Hall brought home the Golden Spoon “Best New Northeast Florida Restaurant” award in 2018, among other regional “best of” awards since opening.
Both Moxie Kitchen + Cocktails and Town Hall are the creations of Gray and his partner in life and business, Sarah Marie Johnston. Together, they are founders of CuliVino, a hospitality consulting and management company specializing in business consultation, new concept development, and operations management to provide multilayered support and systems implementation for restaurant owners and in-house management teams. Along with a dedicated support team and group of business investors, they are leading the charge to bring a higher level of recognition to the North Florida dining scene and sustainable sourcing movement through the concepts they develop and own, as well as for their hospitality clients.
