Steven Harris fell for food service early – and he fell hard. Early memories involve a bar his dad owned, and in which Steve and his sister were tasked with daily clean-up. Snagging loose change and hints of the excitement that descended each evening, he saw that there was money to be made making people happy.

But he learned something else, too: “I saw what happened when a place was humming. I loved the action, being in the center of things.”

He still does. Today, Steve applies more than 15 years of experience to his role as general manager at Tristan. He’s the guy with the eagle eye on the floor – and on the bottom line. “I can’t imagine working behind a desk all day,” he says.

 “I just like being here, in the restaurant, watching the show. It changes every day, and you never know what’s coming next.”

Chef Nate Whiting brings an adventurous new approach to his role as Executive Chef at Tristan. A Rochester, New York native and Johnson and Wales University graduate, the talented 30- year old Whiting comes to Tristan after six years at the Dining Room at Woodlands. Early in Whiting's culinary career he worked at Peninsula Grill under renowned Chef Bob Carter, staged in at the Inn at Little Washington VA, a stint at Maestro in Washington D.C. and Da Vittorio in Bergamo, Italy. Well versed in Italian and New American Cuisines, Nate focuses on using only the most succulent local and seasonal ingredients to prepare stunning, honest, culinary works of art. The Post and Courier said Whiting "dances with technology as he refines his technique and he delights in experimentation yet is mindful of tradition." In his pursuit for distinction Nate is on a quest to redefine the New American fare in this Southern setting.

The young and talented Jesse Sutton of the Woodlands has accepted the position as Sous Chef at Tristan and has joined forces again with his former Chef Nate Whiting. After working together at the Woodlands resort for 3 years, Nate and Jesse have been reunited in this new contemporary setting downtown at Tristan. Jesse, 31, an Illinois native received his culinary arts degree at Kendall College in Chicago and business degree at the University of New Orleans. Jesse worked at Trio restaurant in Chicago under cutting edge Chef Grant Achatz and prominent Chef Dave Hayden at Chicago's award winning Peninsula Hotel's piece de resistance Avenues. After School, Sutton spent time at the Commanders Palace in New Orleans under Executive Chef Tori McPhail. Jesse relocated and settled in Charleston in 2007 after landing his coveted position at Woodlands. As Nate Whiting takes Tristan in this new and exciting direction he will undoubtedly be supported in the kitchen to reach his full creative potential and secure imminent success for all the foodies in Charleston.