History
Try to describe Oliver Hale in one sentence, and no doubt, you'll end up with a paragraph!
That's because Oliver has so many titles: award-winning chef, tennis champion, transplant survivor, TV host, and community volunteer - the list is endless. And, in each capacity, "Chef O" (as he's known to most people) fills the job admirably.
Oliver the Chef & TV Host
The foundation of Chef O started 40 years ago. Currently employed as a chef in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Chef O is also Executive Producer and Host of his own weekly cooking show aired on a variety of public access stations in and around West Michigan. Chef O's Place is seen by thousands of viewers throughout the area who tune in each week to meet Chef O's celebrity guests and enjoy his ever-changing menus. Chef O has appeared numerous times on WOOD/TV8/NBC, WZZM/TVl3/ABC, WOOD Radio/1300 AM, and WLAV 96.9 FM. He has been interviewed many times for articles in the Grand Rapids Press, Grand Rapids Magazine and USTA Magazine. Since 2002, Chef O's Place has won six Philo T. Farnsworth Awards from the Central States Region of the Alliance for Community Media. He also received the 2001 Producer Of The Year Award from Channel 25, WKTV.
In 2001, Chef O was awarded the USA Culinary Excellence Medal by the American Tasting Institute (now the the American Culinary Institute). In addition, he was corporate chef for the establishment named 2000 Casual Dining Award and 2001 Restaurant of the Year by Grand Rapids Magazine. Readers of Grand Rapids Magazine voted him Best Chef in Grand Rapids in both 2003-2004 and 2004-2005.
Hundreds of dialysis patients across the United States have benefitted from the many healthy cooking demonstrations he has done. His healthy cooking demonstrations have been done in such cities as Grand Rapids, Nashville, Austin, Salt Lake City, Chicago, Orlando, Pittsburg, Santa Rosa and many others for the National Kidney Foundation, other national health organizations, as well as for several insurance companies.
A graduate of the University of Toledo with a B.A. in culinary arts and business management, Chef O specializes in healthy cooking, including French cuisine, Italian, seafood, wild game, and other cuisines.
Oliver the Community Volunteer
Chef O has put his considerable talents to work as a volunteer in the Grand Rapids community. On holidays, such as 4th of July, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day, he cooks up dinners at God's Kitchen, a local center for homeless and indigent people. "Since I have no family here in town, I think it's a good opportunity to give something back on days when most people are busy," he says.
Chef O also feeds hundreds of volunteers at the annual Festival of the Arts, the nation's largest all-volunteer arts festival held in downtown Grand Rapids every June. He has served since 1996 as one of the co-chairs of the hospitality committee.
His volunteer activities extend beyond West Michigan, however, as he has auctioned his services during fundraisers for such groups as the March of Dimes, Ronald McDonald House, the National Kidney Foundation, and many others.
Oliver the Personality
Meet Oliver Hale once and you'll never forget him. He's dynamic, personable, and totally at ease, whether cooking for celebrity guests on TV, or serving turkey and dressing to homeless families. Some day in the future, we may see Chef O dishing up gourmet cuisine to John McEnroe or Issac Hayes. "As long as I'm cooking, I'm happy," he says. Chef O is the proud father of 3 children - Jason, Justin and DaNetra and grandfather of two - Clarissa & Zachary. They just don't understand all the big fuss about Chef O and his cooking. They have been eating it all their lives.
No doubt, Chef O will be happy for a good long time!
