More People Behind the Place

Auburn-Opelika is shaped by the people who call it home. The chefs, artists, makers, entrepreneurs, storytellers and community leaders who pour their talents into this place are a big part of what makes it such a special place to live and visit. The People Behind the Place celebrates the individuals whose ideas, passions and stories help make Auburn-Opelika what it is. Get to know the people behind some of our favorite places, experiences and traditions, and discover the stories that make our community unlike anywhere else.

Meet the Chefs

Behind some of Auburn-Opelika’s favorite restaurants are the chefs who bring them to life. Get to know the people, personalities and passions shaping our local culinary scene, one plate at a time.

Dining

Michelin Star-winning Chef Joël Antunes: Rooted in the farm, seasoned by the world

  • 5 min read

When Chef Joël Antunes talks about food, he speaks the way an artist does about color: with admiration and joy. His culinary journey began in the south of France on his grandparents’ farm, where his earliest lessons in cooking started in his grandmother’s kitchen. "When I was a kid, I spent most of…