Former Executive Chef and Owner, Mark Monette, literally grew up in the restaurant business as his parents had been in the restaurant industry long before he was born. He was only 10 when his father, Don Monette, started the Flagstaff House legacy. By the age of 14 he was bussing tables at the Flagstaff House.

His love for cooking and passion for fine cuisine took him to several high-tier restaurants in New York City and to various Michelin-rated restaurants in France and Asia, where he worked with several master chefs including Bernard Herrmann and Thomas Keller.

Mark returned home in 1985 to become the Executive Chef of the Flagstaff House and can be credited for the establishment’s culinary reputation. His unique style of cooking incorporated French American cuisine with Asian accents.

While working at the Flagstaff House, Chef Monette had the opportunity to prepare a special menu for the Emperor and Empress of Japan, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, as well as the Prime Minister of Japan, Ryutaro Hashimoto, and his foreign ministers. The restaurant has also hosted many dinners for notable culinary dignitaries including Paul Bocuse, Angela Gaja and Robert Mondavi. Mark was also featured on the Food Network series “Road Tasted,” hosted by Jamie and Bobby Deen, sons of celebrity chef Paula Deen.

Mark now offers his extensive knowledge of the fine-dining sphere to assist in Chef Chris’s preparations and to oversee the overall success of the Flagstaff House. Mark held the thrown as Executive Chef for over 30 years, from 1985 to 2017. Now he can be found traveling the world and enjoying begin on the “other side” of the dinner table.