Someone’s in the kitchen with Patricia … As Executive Chef of Fuel Co., Patricia Kluge’s concept Bisto-Bar / Café / C-Store, Timothy Hockett interprets Virginia regional cuisine and adds his gourmet spin to the Bistro fare.
New to Charlottesville, Hockett came to the Commonwealth from the Windy City. After graduating from Chicago’s Washburne Culinary School, Hockett worked as a sous chef in several restaurants in the Chicago-based Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises group, honing his skills in Italian home-style cooking, French/Thai fusion, and four-star French dining. Most recently, Hockett was part of the team of chefs responsible for the James Beard Award-winning menu at TRU, one of Chicago’s top-rated restaurants.
Throughout his career, Hockett has cultivated his passion for food and fulfilled his goals to study with some of the country’s most venerated chefs. Before joining Rick Tramonto and Gale Gand at TRU, he worked with Jean-Georges Vongerichten at the four-star Jean-Georges and Vong New York in preparation for the opening of Vong Chicago and Vong’s Thai Kitchen.
Hockett has created a menu at Fuel Co. that draws from his impressive training and highlights his exploration of the best local outlets, offering country freshness and quality. Hockett describes his culinary style as simple and straightforward, focusing on utilizing the best seasonal ingredients available. He says, “At Fuel Co. we’re making the kind of high-quality food you’d find in a four-star restaurant, but at an accessible price.” To this end, Hockett is collaborating with local growers and farmers to develop a cuisine that is firmly rooted in Charlottesville, reflecting its regional flavors. “In the same way the region is attracting national attention for its distinctive wines,” he hopes “Fuel Co. hopes to draw similar recognition to Charlottesville dining.”