The Sand Bar in Oak Bluffs welcomes Chef Charles Tolbert to their team for this 2019 Summer Season and we couldn’t be more excited. Meeting Chef Tolbert for the first time and you instantly can sense his love for food. This week, we sat down with him during a sunny day on the Oak Bluffs Harbor to chat all about what brought him to Martha’s Vineyard.
This Week on MV: First of all, let’s start with a little about where your from and how you arrive on Martha’s Vineyard?
Chef Tolbert: Originally from Detroit but has lived in Atlanta, Las Vegas, Mackinac Island, and Virginia Beach just to name a few, my wife and I became empty nesters and decided to jump back on the seasonal work life. After seeing a few jobs posted on the Cape and Martha’s Vineyard, we saw this job and talked to Mike (Wallace, owner of the Sand Bar) and committed to it right away!
This Week on MV: You’ve lived in a variety of places, how have you liked New England?
Chef Tolbert: Believe it or not, this is my first time ever in New England and I am already loving it!
This Week on MV: What do you love the most about the area?
Chef Tolbert: Coming from the southern part of the East Coast and having cooked in places like Maryland, it’s interesting to see how the main ingredients coming from the sea are so different. Down in Maryland, crab is king while here in Massachusetts, the focus is on clams and lobster, which is totally different but delicious as well!
This Week on MV: What’s your favorite meal to cook?
Chef Tolbert: It has to be between breakfast and desserts – ha! I just love both too much. For a first-timer on Martha’s Vineyard, Chef Tolbert has also brought with him his trusty sous chef, Daniel Williford, also from Atlanta, to cook alongside him at the Sand Bar. The menu focuses on seafood fried entrees, grilled burgers, classic New England eats like fish and chips, plus creative takes on dishes such as Lobster Guacamole. Chef Tolbert hopes to bring his expertise and creativity to showcase on the menu and specials and we can’t wait to taste it all!
