After nearly 30 years of being a chef, Allen Gray has decided to hang up his apron. He actually never intended to become a chef; it sort of just happened, but then he fell in love with cooking. The rest is history.
In his 30s, a young Allen was looking for job and heard about an opening at the then-new Winn-Dixie in St. Elmo, the current location of Food City. He started working in the wok kitchen and quickly learned to make delicious Chinese food. Soon, he advanced to the deli where he cooked for nearly seven years before going to work at the Fairyland Club under then-chef Virginia Cofer.
The late Gene Williams, who owned the Mountain Market in the Fairyland shopping center, hired Allen, who offered customers a hot meal bar consisting of the classic meat-and-three five days a week. Allen worked there for seven years, until the market burned down in 2007.
He next worked as a personal chef for Lara Munford and her five sons, cooking for them for 11 years. When the Market on the Mountain opened in Lookout Mountain, Tenn., Allen spent his mornings working at the market and the afternoons in Lara’s kitchen.
Several years ago, Allen started working full-time at the market’s new location in the Lookout Mountain, Tenn., business district, bringing with him his famous recipe for almond chicken salad, which is a favorite of many.
Over the years, Allen has worked with many people, including his longtime friend Margaret Johnson Zent, who worked with him both at the Fairyland market location as well as at its present location.
Margaret says, “Allen was probably the most fun coworker I have ever had the privilege to work with, and I consider him a wonderful friend - who always made me laugh. It was never a bad day at work, as he always brought in the sunshine. I miss his laugh and infectious smile, and I wish him a wonderful retirement spending much-needed time with his daughter and grandchildren!”
Allen’s last day was scheduled to be November 30, right after Thanksgiving. He will be leaving for San Diego soon to spend time with his family, which includes daughter Savannah and her children Taj, 18, Camille, 11, and Jayla, 22, and Gia, the 18-month-old daughter of Jayla and Allen’s great granddaughter!
Savannah is a junior lieutenant in the Navy and is being deployed to the Middle East for five and a half months. Allen is excited about both helping her and spending time with his grandchildren and great granddaughter. He is so proud of them all.
Allen’s husband, Randy, will visit often during the five months Savannah is gone, and when she returns, Allen will come back to Chattanooga and enjoy his first year of doing whatever he wants - whenever he wants. He and Randy already have cruises and trips lined up!
After a little rest and relaxation, Allen said he might consider working part-time at the market but initially wants to spend time “doing nothing.”
“It has been a blessing working up here for all these years, and I will miss my customers and coworkers who have become my friends and my family,” Allen said. He leaves his market coworkers Seth Bryant and Denise Ware with very big shoes to fill.
Allen is an institution on the mountain and has brought us many meals and many smiles. I’ve never seen him in a bad mood, nor have I ever seen him angry. I don’t know what I’m going to do without his vegetable beef soup and his chicken noodle soup, which I adore.
We wish you much happiness and much leisure time, because you deserve every bit of it. We love you Allen, you will be missed by all.
by Gwin Tugman
In his 30s, a young Allen was looking for job and heard about an opening at the then-new Winn-Dixie in St. Elmo, the current location of Food City. He started working in the wok kitchen and quickly learned to make delicious Chinese food. Soon, he advanced to the deli where he cooked for nearly seven years before going to work at the Fairyland Club under then-chef Virginia Cofer.
The late Gene Williams, who owned the Mountain Market in the Fairyland shopping center, hired Allen, who offered customers a hot meal bar consisting of the classic meat-and-three five days a week. Allen worked there for seven years, until the market burned down in 2007.
He next worked as a personal chef for Lara Munford and her five sons, cooking for them for 11 years. When the Market on the Mountain opened in Lookout Mountain, Tenn., Allen spent his mornings working at the market and the afternoons in Lara’s kitchen.
Several years ago, Allen started working full-time at the market’s new location in the Lookout Mountain, Tenn., business district, bringing with him his famous recipe for almond chicken salad, which is a favorite of many.
Over the years, Allen has worked with many people, including his longtime friend Margaret Johnson Zent, who worked with him both at the Fairyland market location as well as at its present location.
Margaret says, “Allen was probably the most fun coworker I have ever had the privilege to work with, and I consider him a wonderful friend - who always made me laugh. It was never a bad day at work, as he always brought in the sunshine. I miss his laugh and infectious smile, and I wish him a wonderful retirement spending much-needed time with his daughter and grandchildren!”
Allen’s last day was scheduled to be November 30, right after Thanksgiving. He will be leaving for San Diego soon to spend time with his family, which includes daughter Savannah and her children Taj, 18, Camille, 11, and Jayla, 22, and Gia, the 18-month-old daughter of Jayla and Allen’s great granddaughter!
Savannah is a junior lieutenant in the Navy and is being deployed to the Middle East for five and a half months. Allen is excited about both helping her and spending time with his grandchildren and great granddaughter. He is so proud of them all.
Allen’s husband, Randy, will visit often during the five months Savannah is gone, and when she returns, Allen will come back to Chattanooga and enjoy his first year of doing whatever he wants - whenever he wants. He and Randy already have cruises and trips lined up!
After a little rest and relaxation, Allen said he might consider working part-time at the market but initially wants to spend time “doing nothing.”
“It has been a blessing working up here for all these years, and I will miss my customers and coworkers who have become my friends and my family,” Allen said. He leaves his market coworkers Seth Bryant and Denise Ware with very big shoes to fill.
Allen is an institution on the mountain and has brought us many meals and many smiles. I’ve never seen him in a bad mood, nor have I ever seen him angry. I don’t know what I’m going to do without his vegetable beef soup and his chicken noodle soup, which I adore.
We wish you much happiness and much leisure time, because you deserve every bit of it. We love you Allen, you will be missed by all.
by Gwin Tugman
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