Thomas Melvin

Executive Chef

Born in Indiana, Thomas began his culinary journey at the young age of fourteen in local restaurants. His first Sous Chef opportunities came at Royal Oak and the Country Club of Indianapolis. From there he took on the role of Chef de Cuisine at the Canterbury Hotel where he maintained a AAA four diamond rating. Next up was the role of Executive Chef for Mo’s a Place for Steaks and Prime 47. This experience led him to accepting the position of Corporate Executive Chef for Epic Hospitality Group. This expanded Thomas’ range in the industry. Through this role, he developed/opened new concepts and mentored chefs and professionals across 5 locations in central Indiana, Cincinnati, and Milwaukee.

In 2014, Thomas joined Cunningham Restaurant Group as Executive Chef of Union 50, where his creative vision flourished. Under his leadership, Union 50 was featured on OpenTable's list of 100 Hottest Restaurants in America for two consecutive years. In 2017, he transitioned to Executive Chef at Vida, where his culinary artistry and dedication have maintained the restaurant's AAA Four Diamond Award every year since. Thomas was also recognized as a semifinalist for Best Chef Great Lakes by the James Beard Foundation in 2022 and 2024. 

Outside of the kitchen, Thomas enjoys spending time with his wife Amanda and their two children, Grant and Stella. Together, Thomas and Amanda founded Stella's Solemates Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for the education and inclusion of individuals with special needs.