Feed Your Well-Being®
Mandara Hospitality Group is an Asheville independent restaurant group co-founded by husband and wife team Peter and Martha Pollay. Our company culture is founded upon our desire to nurture the wellbeing of our staff, customers, and community. We are committed to supporting equity, diversity, and inclusion in our workplace and are actively working against racism in all its forms.
In all of our projects, we want to create spaces that leave lasting impressions. Where every detail is thoughtfully considered from the rim of your glass to connecting you to the farms from where your food is harvested. It’s always about bringing our best and serving our community.
Mandara took root out of this insatiable joy to host, serve and cultivate communities. It is the embodiment of our mantra; local, seasonal and sustainable.
To us, it represents future opportunities, restaurants and experiences that exceed expectations and leave you feeling cared for and well-fed.
Expertise & Consulting
- Concept development
- F&B menu development
- Strategic planning and operations
- Restaurant management
- Staff recruiting and training
- Allergy awareness training
Executive Team
A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, Executive Chef Peter Pollay has over 20 years of experience working in kitchens for Wolfgang Puck at Granita and Spago Chicago, David Burke at Park Avenue Cafe, Waldy Malouf’s Hudson River Club, and Larry Levy. His philosophy of sourcing premium ingredients, working with the local farming community, and never taking shortcuts can be sampled at any of our restaurants. When he’s not in the kitchen, Peter enjoys gathering for a family meal, cheering his kids on at soccer games, and traveling with his family.
- Asheville Independent Air President (2010 – 2013)
- First Certified Green Restaurant® in North Carolina.
Martha is a Co-Founder of Mandara Hospitality Group and a certified leadership coach. Her desire to maximize wellbeing and resilience has guided how she runs her personal and professional endeavors.
From the launch of their first restaurant in 2009, Martha’s vision has been to elevate the employee culture, leadership style and guest experience within the hospitality industry. Mandara’s mantra, Feed Your Well-Being®, was inspired by this ambition.
“Not only do we want to feed the well-being of our guests and our community, but we also want to behave and treat each other in a manner that does so as well.”
Knowing there is a ripple effect to every interaction, Martha is passionate about coaching her team to embody the social and emotional intelligence skills necessary to maximize the quality of their connections with others.
Jordan took his first kitchen job at age 14 and hasn’t looked back. By the time he was 22, he was the Head Chef of a restaurant in New Orleans which propelled him into fine dining and hospitality, first at The Grill Room in the 5-star/5-diamond Windsor Court Hotel and later in Charleston, SC at the famed Charleston Place Hotel. He went on to work for chefs Bob Wagoner and Michelle Weaver in Charleston before landing at Posana in 2010.
Bringing all his expertise in high-end kitchens and a love for all things pasta, Jordan has expanded his role at Mandara to include, the Director of Operations and Executive Chef positions at Bargello and District 42. Jordan enjoys mentoring young chefs and helping them navigate their culinary path. When he’s not in the kitchen, he is likely to be found enjoying the outdoors with his family.
With an extensive background in fine dining restaurants, hotel operations, and event planning, Maddy has been a hospitality professional since 2011. Her numerous positions have ranged from restaurant management to convention services and she cherishes the connections she makes with people from all over the world through her work.
Maddy has recently returned to Asheville to continue her career with Mandara Hospitality Group as the event sales manager. An explorer at heart, Maddy enjoys yoga, nature walks, and road trips to new places.
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