Our executive chef, Steve Chan, comes from a large tight knit family in The Bay Area, but eventually found himself in Northern Nevada in 2004 where he could enjoy the beautiful Carson Valley scenery yet stay close to his family. Steve acknowledges his mother as the most influential chef in his life. She not only taught him the basics of cooking and the joys of exploring different styles of cuisine, but also never to sacrifice the use of the best ingredients because great food is something that everyone should experience. Being in the heart of the local food movement surrounded by all of the farms in the Valley along with the always evolving food scene in Carson City is Steve’s favorite part of his job. He can’t wait to serve you up some delicious grub at The Union.
Ryan Hamel General Manager
A New Englander born and bred, Ryan transplanted to the West Coast following his time serving as a United States Marine. He made his way to Las Vegas where he discovered his passion for food, restaurants and making the guest experience memorable. In 2015, Ryan and his family had the opportunity to move to Northern Nevada to live the “Rugged, Relaxed, Reachable” life of the Carson Valley. With over 15 years of restaurant management experience, his goal is to make your dining adventure memorable by letting his passion for local, farm to table cuisine shine while giving the best customer service to our guests.
James Vandegrift Manager
James Vandegrift has been in the hospitality industry since he was 14 years old. He is a Florida native and comes from a very southern style family surrounded by his fun loving older sisters. In 2004 he moved to the west coast to work at Kirkwood Mountain Resort where he continued to pursue his passion for restaurants. He has experience in both the front and back of the house and has worked in a variety of fast paced food and beverage establishments like the Venetian Country Club in Florida, Hard Rock in Lake Tahoe and Levy Restaurants. He is thrilled to be at The Union where he enjoys getting to know the Carson locals and soaking in all of the rich history the Carson Valley has to offer.
