Sam Mason

The Path

Johnson & Wales University gave Sam Mason the technical base for a career built on speed, range, and a willingness to work across categories without losing control of the plate. That training shows up in a body of work that moves between sweet and savory, polished and playful, with rules treated as tools to be understood before they are adjusted. The current portfolio — chef-founder / co-owner / head chef of OddFellows Ice Cream Co, owner of Lady Jay's, owner of Empire Mayonnaise, and chef of Auberge Saint-Antoine — points to a cook whose language is texture, pacing, and a clear point of view.

The Work Today

Precision and irreverence sit close together in Sam Mason’s current work. OddFellows Ice Cream Co. Carries a looseness and color that allows for play, while Lady Jay's and Empire Mayonnaise show how an idea can be turned into a lasting product without sanding off its edge. At Auberge Saint-Antoine, the work has to hold a steadier line, but the same instinct for detail remains visible. Across these projects, Sam’s approach reads as a set of linked expressions rather than a single format, with each one shaped by the same attention to flavor and form.

Signature

Chorizo Caramel Swirl, Foie Gras Drumstick, Cornbread Sundae, and Beer Sundae define Sam Mason’s signature through contrast. The names place comfort next to surprise, then push both toward something less predictable. Sweet and savory are not kept apart here; they are folded together, with nostalgia used as a starting point rather than an endpoint. The result is work that treats mischief as a method and contrast as structure.

In Their Words The setup is straightforward: live fire, shellfish, cold wine, and a few people around the table. It describes a kind of hospitality that depends on timing and ease, with the grill doing the heavy lifting and the rest kept intentionally unforced. “OddFellows is relatively easy. It’s a fun and whimsical environment, so the music reflects that.” At OddFellows Ice Cream Co, mood is part of the operating system. Music becomes another layer in the room, extending the playful register of the shop and keeping the atmosphere aligned with the product.