THOMAS WHITTEN
@BLACKSTONE_COWBOY
THOMAS, BETTER KNOWN ONLINE AS @BLACKSTONE_COWBOY, BRINGS A RUGGED, DOWN-TO-EARTH STYLE AND PLENTY OF PERSONALITY TO THE GRIDDLE CREW. HIS CONTENT BLENDS GREAT FOOD WITH A LAID-BACK, COUNTRY-FORWARD APPROACH THAT FEELS AUTHENTIC, FUN, AND EASY TO CONNECT WITH.
Q: WHEN DID YOU FIRST FALL IN LOVE WITH COOKING?
I FIRST FELL IN LOVE WITH COOKING WHEN I WAS YOUNG. I WOULD BAKE AND COOK WITH MY GRANDMOTHER AND MOM. MY LOVE ONLY INTENSIFIED AS I ENTERED THE RESTAURANT AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY AS I STRIVED TO LEARN AS MUCH AS I COULD FROM THE CHEFS I WORKED WITH. ULTIMATELY, I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO GET EXCITED WHEN THEY HEAR I’M COOKING!
Q: WHEN DID YOU HEAR ABOUT BLACKSTONE, AND WHEN DID YOU START COOKING ON ONE?
MY DAD AND MY UNCLE FIRST STARTED TALKING ABOUT BLACKSTONE AND IT PIQUED MY INTEREST. I HAD BEEN WANTING A FLAT TOP FOR A WHILE AND FINALLY IN THE SPRING OF 2023, I PURCHASED MY FIRST 36” BLACKSTONE AND THE REST IS HISTORY!
Q: WHAT DO YOU DO FOR A LIVING AND HOW DID YOU GET STARTED DOING IT?
FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS I HAVE WORKED FOR DELL TECHNOLOGIES, I AM CURRENTLY A SALES MANAGER FOR THEM. I WAS LOOKING TO BREAK AWAY FROM RESTAURANTS AT THE TIME BECAUSE THE SCHEDULE WAS GETTING HARDER TO MANAGE AS MY FAMILY GREW. I KNEW SOMEONE THERE AND HE ASKED IF I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN COMING OVER. I CAME ON AS AN ACCOUNT MANAGER AND WORKED MY WAY UP!
Q: WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU'RE NOT COOKING?
WHEN I’M NOT COOKING YOU MIGHT FIND ME AT DISNEY WORLD. YES, I’M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE. IF I’M NOT THERE, I ENJOY SPENDING TIME WITH MY 3 DAUGHTERS. WE LOVE TO CAMP AND I STAY PRETTY ACTIVE IN THEIR AMERICAN HERITAGE GIRL TROOP. I ALSO SPEND SOME OF MY SUMMER AND FALL WORKING WITH HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BANDS AND JUDGING THEIR COMPETITIONS!