About Tim Love

Chef Tim Love is known as much for his vibrant personality as he is for his signature urban western cuisine, creating inspired and innovative dishes that have earned critical and popular acclaim. With restaurants spanning the nation from Seattle to Knoxville, Love’s roots remain in Texas, where he is chef and owner of beloved Texas restaurants Lonesome Dove Western Bistro, Woodshed Smokehouse, Queenie’s Steakhouse, Gemelle, Atico, and Love Shack, as well as the storied White Elephant Saloon.

Widely known as a de facto ambassador for Texas, Love is a national spokesperson for Hellmann’s Mayonnaise and Thomas’ English Muffins & Bagels. His keen business acumen landed him a role as host of CNBC’s show Restaurant Startup, where he and co-host Joe Bastianich vie against each other to invest their own money in restaurant concepts they believe will make them millions. A committed philanthropist, Love is devoted to several charities including Burgers 4 Babies, which he founded in 2010 benefitting the NICU Helping Hands organization.

Love’s crowd-pleasing joviality is frequently seen in his numerous public appearances, including the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, South Beach Wine & Food Festival, Music City Food & Wine, Austin Food & Wine – the festival he co-founded in 2012 – and Austin City Limits music festival, where he holds the title of Official Chef. Love has appeared on countless national television shows, including NBC’s TODAY Show, Good Morning America, and has recently been appointed as the Official Food and Wine Contributor for CNBC. An avid hunter and dedicated sports fan, Love can often be found tailgating in his custom-built Toyota Tundra with his beloved Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers, or Tennessee Volunteers. Love resides in Fort Worth, Texas with his wife Emilie and their three children.

Restaurant Startup

“On ‘Restaurant Startup’ restaurateur and TV personality Joe Bastianich and chef and restaurant operator, Tim Love, vied against each other to invest their own money in food concepts they believed would make them millions. Each week, two teams made their case to our investors, Joe Bastianich and Tim Love, for a shot at launching a temporary version of their great concept for a restaurant or a specialty food shop.