Kyle Perkins: The Tides Inn

Chef Kyle Perkins has found his culinary home at Salt &
Meadow inside The Tides Inn in Irvington, Virginia, where the
breathtaking waterfront views and local seafood inspire his
cooking. 


"I came and I walked through the front door at the Tides Inn. I
saw the view, and I said, 'Yep, sign me up,'" Perkins said.


Before joining The Tides Inn as executive chef, Perkins worked at
Twin Farms, a boutique resort in Vermont that he describes as "a
true definition of escaping reality" with no phone service and a
secluded woodland setting.


The Vermont native's journey to The Tides Inn came after a stint
in San Francisco during 2020, when the pandemic made city living
unaffordable and limited opportunities. He returned to Vermont,
briefly worked in landscaping, then joined Twin Farms under chef
Nathan Rich, who provided "an excellent platform for me to excel
and grow."


When the opportunity at The Tides Inn presented itself through
Tanzerra Resorts, the property's parent company, Perkins was
immediately drawn to the unique coastal setting.


The transition from Vermont to Virginia's Northern Neck brought
significant changes to his culinary approach. At Twin Farms,
Perkins served about 28 guests and could change menus at will. At
The Tides Inn, he feeds up to 300 people daily and focuses on
consistency.


"Making sure that recipes are extremely consistent, because I
don't have the ability every single day to change the menu,"
Perkins said.


Being on the water has also influenced his menu, with seafood
playing a prominent role. Perkins has even worked on an oyster
farm to better understand the local industry.


"I've worked out on an oyster farm for a couple of days, and they
were 12-hour back-breaking days. It's no joke. I have a lot more
respect for what they're doing out there on the water," Perkins
said.


To source local ingredients, Perkins explores the area and builds
relationships with producers like Young Overholt in Gloucester,
which raises cattle on seventh-generation family land.


"He's pushing for quality. He's not pushing for quantity. And
that's something that we want to promote," Perkins said. "As we
kind of reverse back in time, and we go back to this farm to
table, which used to be the norm, and we go back to buying things
from your neighbor and not buying it from a supermarket."


The Tides Inn offers guests a unique experience on a peninsula
that feels secluded yet welcoming. The property features a
boardwalk showcasing their living shoreline, a marina, croquet
lawn, bocce court, and the more casual Fish Hawk bar.


While the restaurant is "a little more upscale" with a dress
code, Perkins aims to create an inviting atmosphere with elevated
home-style cooking.


"We want them to feel welcome. We want them to feel at home, but
like whoa. This tastes like home-cooked food, but it doesn't look
like it. It's a level up," Perkins said.


The Tides Inn continues to add unique experiences for guests,
including crab feasts on boat rides and, most recently, seaplane
tours that depart directly from the property.


Watch Chef Kyle prepare oysters on Virginia This Morning.


See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.