Austen Schindler

Photo Credit: Brook/Covey

NC Chef Ambassador Austen Schindler is the Executive Chef at Covey, in Wilmington, NC.

Austen is originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, and his path to the kitchen wasn’t a straight line. He began college as a finance major, but after taking a job as a dishwasher, he fell in love with the restaurant industry, especially the people who make it what it is. That experience changed everything.

He transferred into the culinary program at Cape Fear Community College, where he found his footing as a cook. During school, he began an internship at PinPoint Restaurant in Wilmington, and over the course of three years worked his way up to Chef de Cuisine, an experience that deeply shaped my approach to food, leadership, and craft.

Now at Covey, at 28 years old, Chef Schindler’s cooking centers on refined comfort food rooted in seasonality, local ingredients, and a deep respect for North Carolina seafood.

“I’m proud to represent our fishermen, our coast, and the community that continues to shape my journey, and honored to be welcomed as a Chef Ambassador for NC Catch “

Follow Covey and Chef Austen on Instagram.