Ty Thames
Works at: Restaurant Tyler
Home state: Mississippi
Jonathan “Ty” Thames is a Mississippi native who started his culinary career at 15. After graduating from the New England Culinary Institute in Vermont, he moved to Parma, Italy, to apprentice under chef Leonardo of Maria Luigia Restaurant. Upon returning to the United States, Thames moved to Washington, D.C. and began work at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, then moved to the regional Italian fine dining restaurant Centro, located in Bethesda, Maryland.
He then moved back to his home state to pursue his dream of owning a restaurant. He found home in Starkville, Miss., where he works today.
