David Cunningham

Native to south Louisiana, David Cunningham grew up in a family of great cooks in Baton Rouge.  His passion for the outdoors fueled David’s desire to develop his culinary craft and he learned to cook game and seafood at any early age.

After graduating from Louisiana State University in 1993, Chef David attended culinary school at Johnson & Wales University in Charleston, S.C. and then attained a Bachelor’s degree in Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Administration from the University of New Orleans. While earning his third degree, David completed his formal training at the famed New Orleans Commander’s Palace under the late Chef Jamie Shannon. During his stint at Commander’s Palace, Chef David was featured in Gourmet Magazine featuring the Top Five chocolate desserts, cooked at the famous James Beard House in New York and participated in the Turner South “Off the Menu” television show.

David and his wife moved to Vermont in November 2001, at which time he took the position of Chef du Cuisine at Mary’s at Baldwin Creek and later became the Executive Chef of the Perry Restaurant Group in 2002. In August of 2009, David Cunningham took the helm as Executive Chef of the newest addition to the Commander’s Family of restaurants at Commander’s Palace Destin, located in the HarborWalk Village Emerald Grande Resort.

In January of 2011, David joined the team at the long anticipated Hotel Viridian where he is the current Executive Chef of their flagship restaurant, V Seagrove. Since opening of V Restaurant in March of 2011 Chef David and staff have accumulated a number of awards including Florida Trends Golden Spoon and Top 200 Restaurants.

He currently lives in Santa Rosa Beach, FL with his wife, Andie, and their two children, Tobie and Owen.