David Lutz began his culinary career over 30 years ago in his hometown of Pleasanton, CA at a family run Italian restaurant. After completing his formal training at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY, David later returned to the Bay Area to continue his training and spent six years working for Wolfgang Puck at Postrio in San Francisco.
In 2004, David and his family moved to Tahoe and he became Chef of Wild Goose Restaurant and the Tahoe Mountain Club. This experience gave him the opportunity to open Schaffer’s Camp Restaurant at Northstar Resort in 2006, the same year Bon Appétit magazine named Wild Goose as the restaurant serving the best food in Tahoe. 2008 brought David a chance to fulfill a lifetime dream of owning his own restaurant with the opening of Evergreen in Tahoe City, which he ran until 2012.
David is well versed in numerous cuisines which contribute to his style as a Chef. He has participated in many Tahoe culinary events such as Best of Chef’s Dinners and Autumn Food & Wine Festivals being awarded multiple medals and was back-to-back champion of the Blazing Pans Mountain Chef Cook-off.
David resides in Tahoe City with his wife, a dietician at Tahoe Forest Hospital, and his two sons who keep him busy with their numerous sports and other endeavors. In his free time, he likes to play guitar and sing for anyone who likes to listen.
Ryan Odom began his culinary career nearly 20 years ago after attending college on a baseball scholarship at Rose State College in OKC. He grew up and spent most of his life in Mississippi and was first intrigued as a young man with the flavorful taste of Southern cuisine. His inspiration and true love for cooking routed from watching his grandmother and mother prepare a variety of dishes, especially Southern cuisine, for their large family.
In 2014 Ryan moved to Lake Tahoe and ventured with various local restaurants such as Jack Rabbit Moon, 1882 and the Tavern at Northstar.
Ryan resides in Carnelian Bay with his wife, the creative director for LT Marketing, and his two-year-old and newborn sons. In his free time you’ll find Ryan indulging in his other passions including golfing, skiing and playing drums.
