Both through his studies at culinary school and working front-line at several iconic Charleston restaurants, Charleston native John Ondo has honed his own simple approach to food. He showcased his unpretentious presentations of “just good food” when he launched Lana in downtown Charleston in 2005, where as Chef/Owner he spent 13 years refining his rustic approach to Mediterranean cuisine built around locally sourced seasonal ingredients. An adherent of the rich tradition of passing down kitchen knowledge, Ondo has served as an adjunct professor of Mediterranean cuisine at the Culinary Institute of Charleston, thus making a significant contribution in developing an emerging generation of culinary talent. Since joining Kiawah Island Golf Resort in 2018 as executive chef of The Atlantic Room and Ryder Cup Bar at The Ocean Course, Ondo has drawn on his deeply fostered relationships with local farmers and fishermen to create seafood-forward menus that celebrate the bounties of each of the Lowcountry’s long growing seasons. In acknowledgement of his support for local food purveyors, including through South Carolina’s Fresh on the Menu program, and transforming their ingredients into classic yet inventive dishes, Ondo was appointed by the governor to serve as the 2022 South Carolina Chef Ambassador.
