Chef
Scott Bacon
- Discipline
- Chef
- Based in
- Washington DC, Washington DC, United States
i. Biography
His work sits in Baltimore and the Maryland region that shaped it, with Columbia as an early frame of reference: Scott Bacon grew up there in a mixed-race global family. That background shows up in the way he cooks, with an emphasis on connection, a clear sense of place, and a range of flavors that stays rooted.
The Path
Executive-chef work at Magdalena in Baltimore, Maryland, from 2021 gave Scott Bacon an early platform to show control, restraint, and direction. The kitchen language there reads as measured rather than showy, with the plate carrying the confidence and discipline behind it. At The Red Hen, he holds the same role in Washington, DC, and the move extends that line rather than resetting it: a broader stage for a style already grounded in the region and in the kitchens that shaped him.
The Work Today
At The Red Hen, Bacon works as Executive Chef. The cooking is globally inspired and locally sourced, a pairing that keeps the menu both expansive and close to home. Maryland dishes remain part of that frame, giving the food a local anchor even as it reaches outward. The result is a kitchen built on contrast handled cleanly: ingredients from nearby, influences from elsewhere, and a table that can hold both at once.
Signature
Scott's signature dishes include Mezzi Rigatoni with Fennel Sausage Ragu, fennel sausage rigatoni, and arancini. Read together, they point to a kitchen working in a savory register: comfort executed with precision, familiar forms tightened into cleaner lines, and dishes that meet diners with warmth while still showing a steady hand.
In Their Words “The Chesapeake Bay Watershed is such an incredible area; we’re so lucky to be in such a bountiful and beautiful and biologically diverse area. There’s not anything I want that’s not here… other than citrus, unfortunately. Not yet anyway.” “That is the feeling I want to share with our guests.”
Acclaim
The key markers in Bacon’s career are the executive-chef posts at Magdalena in 2021 and The Red Hen today. Taken together, they trace a rise built on consistency and increasing visibility, with each room giving fuller shape to the perspective he brings to Maryland dining.
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Scott
What is Scott Bacon's current role?
As of 2026, Scott Bacon is Executive Chef.
Where did Scott Bacon work before?
Scott Bacon's earlier career included Magdalena.
What is Scott Bacon known for?
Maryland dishes.
