Food and cooking are through lines in Bernard Bennett’s life. What started as his mother teaching him to cook with the vegetables grown in his grandmother’s garden became a lifelong joy of preparing delicious meals for all to enjoy. Bernard has over 17 years in the kitchen, most of which came in the beautiful city of Chicago. His Chicago career highlights include: becoming Executive Chef at the Promontory and Chef de Cuisine at Big Jones; participating in the South Side Chefs’ Revival and Homecoming benefit for the Edna Lewis Foundation, and cooking for the one and only Beyonce. Now is has taken his talents down south to open his first restaurant in the heart of old town Bluffton, SC. His food truck which focuses on Caribbean Street food has been impressing food lovers at places like Starland Yards and Lone Wolf in Savannah. The food truck is just an introduction of what’s to come. His restaurant, Okan, which opened June 2023 in the heart of old town Bluffton. Serves elevated fare inspired by the food ways of the transatlantic slave trade. In just the 2 and half years he has been in the low-country he has made an impact on the culinary scene which has led to a semifinalist nod by the James Beard foundation, in the emerging chef category.