ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — Louisiana native, Thomas Wolfe always knew he was destined to be a chef. Since childhood, cooking has always been his passion, so it was only natural for him to pursue a career in the culinary arts.

Now, Chef Wolfe is ready to share that same passion with an upscale neighborhood restaurant at The Wharf called Wolfe's Louisiana Pantry. This 6,600 square foot restaurant will serve everything from an array of decadent salads, to oven roasted North American rack of lamb, to New Orleans style Po-Boys. The assorted menu offers something for everyone including a list of delicious deserts.

The restaurant will also sell Chef Wolfe's retail line, The Louisiana Pantry, which will include New Orleans style chow chow, an array of seasonings and what they are most recognized for, bread and butter pickles.

Wolfe's Louisiana Pantry will open sometime in early May.

After attending Delgado University’s Culinary Arts Program, Wolfe worked in some of New Orleans’s finest restaurants.

In 2000, Chef Wolfe opened his flagship restaurant, Wolfe’s of New Orleans, and it was a major success. After winning several awards including, “Best New Fine Dining Restaurant in New Orleans” by Bon Appetite and even being nationally recognized in the same category as some of his former employers, Wolfe’s life quickly became a dream come true.

Chef Anne Kearney, former chef of Peristyle restaurant, chose Chef Wolfe as the new handler and owner of the award-winning upscale French restaurant 2004. He maintained its success and fine-dining experience, while continually being recognized as one of the best restaurants in New Orleans and in the nation.

Wolfe’s in the Warehouse was born in 2005 after Marriott International invited Chef Wolfe to create a menu and concept for the restaurant which is now considered a “hidden gem” in the Warehouse District. Chef Wolfe’s contemporary Creole flair is influenced by different nationalities and is something that tourists and natives alike enjoy about his cuisine.

Shortly after the opening of Wolfe’s in the Warehouse, during a time when Chef Wolfe’s three restaurants were thriving, Hurricane Katrina hit and destroyed Wolfe’s of New Orleans. After rebuilding the nationally acclaimed Peristyle restaurant and re-opening Wolfe's in the Warehouse, Chef Wolfe continued on.

In 2008, after the economy bottomed out, Chef Wolfe made the difficult decision to close the popular Peristyle restaurant and to open something more casual with the cuisine he felt was closest to his heart.