Although his childhood dreams of becoming an Air Force pilot were sidelined due to less-than-perfect vision, Marc Collins quickly found his focus and footing in the culinary world. At age 16, he worked as a chef apprentice aboard Paradise II, a private yacht with a presidential history, an experience that inspired him to pursue a culinary degree at the Pennsylvania Institute of Culinary Arts.
A series of cooking jobs included a post at the Erie Country Club in his hometown, where he served under Executive Chef David Spadafore, a Gold Medal Winner in the Culinary Olympics held in Frankfurt, Germany. In 1991, Collins moved to San Antonio, where he worked at La Mansion Del Rio under French chef Guy Collinet and, later, at La Louisiane, a restaurant specializing in fine French cuisine and Cajun Creole cooking. At 23, he took his first chef position at the Fairmount Hotel, an AAA Four Diamond hotel restaurant. In 2001, he was recruited to helm Circa 1886 in Charleston. In 2005, Marc had a budding idea for a food and wine festival to be hosted in Charleston, spotlighting the city’s amazing array of talent and ingredients. Thanks to his dedication and countless hours of preliminary planning meetings, that vision became reality in 2006, when the first annual Charleston Wine + Food launched. Today, the festival is a prominent annual event, featuring more than 160 chefs and authors from Charleston and across the country, and comprising dozens of food and wine events.
Chef Collins has received several prestigious accolades, including having an award named after him by the Charleston Wine and Food Festival, being selected as a 2019 South Carolina Chef Ambassador, and winning the 2020 Local Food Champion award from Small Luxury Hotels of the World. Chef Collins’ unwavering commitment to culinary excellence has solidified Circa 1886’s reputation as a culinary destination of choice for discerning diners worldwide.
Beyond his culinary pursuits, Chef Collins is deeply engaged in community outreach. He actively participates in charitable events in and around the Charleston area giving his time and talents to help others in need.
Chef Marc Collins’ journey is a testament to the transformative power of food and the enduring legacy of Southern hospitality. Through each meticulously crafted dish, he invites diners on a sensory journey through the flavors and traditions of the Lowcountry, leaving an indelible impression on the palate and the soul.
