HARFORD COUNTY, MD — The executive chef at The Local in Fallston has been named Chef of the Year by the Restaurant Association of Maryland.
Zack Trabbold, owner and executive chef, has been in the industry since he was 13. His 18-year-old brother had custody of him and at a young age, he needed a job to help pay their bills.
“Our neighbors owned a restaurant, so I started bussing tables and washing dishes. I’ve been in the kitchen since age 15 but I got my first sous chef job at 19,” Trabbold told Patch. “I’m so happy to win this award. I was up for this award last year and didn’t win so to just be nominated for it twice is a honor, but to win is a dream.”
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Trabbold trained at The Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College in Philadelphia and worked his way through the ranks to eventually open his own restaurant, The Local, which celebrates its second anniversary in August 2023. Trabbold’s business partner who owns a small percentage is Bobby Windsor.
Together with his corporate chef de cuisine Joe Kahl, Trabbold creates the menus for all of their locations.
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“Joe has just joined our team from Gunther & Co. and we are thrilled to have him. When we develop the menu, we check with our farmers to see what is in season and what they are growing first and then we go to work. We draw inspiration from all around us — it has to be fresh and seasonal first Then we take old classics and put a spin on them. The thing about The Local is we have sushi, steak and pasta and so much more. There is no limit to what we do and that makes it so easy to be creative with our menus,” Trabbold said.
It’s important to support local, Trabbold said, so he knows what he’s serving his guests and to support partners in the community.
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“I want to be able to tell my guests that they are are having the best beef on the market and that goes for everything. Another reason is because we are helping people in our community — why wouldn’t you want to help and support people in your own backyard? We believe that wholeheartedly support all aspects of our local community,” Trabbold said.
His favorite dish on the menu at The Local happens to be the beef wellington for two. But his favorite food to dine on is Italian.
The Local is open seven days a week, Monday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Brunch is served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The eatery seats an estimated 150 patrons.
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