How We See Salem: The Hawthorne Hotel's Chef Kenneth O'Keefe

This week's "How We See Salem" column has been submitted by Chef Ken from the Hawthorne Hotel.

The Hawthorne Hotel has two full service restaurants, Nathaniel's and The Tavern in the Hawthorne Hotel, and a full banquet service. Here's a bit of insight into Salem from the man behind the menus.

Chef Kenneth O'Keefe
Executive Sous Chef at the Hawthorne Hotel

Where are you from originally?
New York and New Hampshire

How long have you lived or worked in Salem?
8 years

What is your favorite thing about Salem?
The history. There are very few 400-year-0ld cities in the United States.

What’s your favorite place to eat in Salem?
Tavern at the Hawthorne Hotel, Sixty2 on Wharf, Dube's Seafood

What’s your favorite place to shop in Salem?
Beautiful Things and J. Mode (for gifts for my wife).

What is the first thing you do with guests from out of town?
I usually take them to the Peabody Essex Museum.

* * *

If you want to shop, dine, and explore like Chef Ken, here are links to the places he recommends:

• Beautiful Things
• Dube’s Seafood, 317 Jefferson Avenue
  
• J. Mode
• Peabody Essex Museum
• Sixty2 on Wharf
• The Tavern at the Hawthorne Hotel
  

Before I post this, I just have to add... Chef Ken shops at J. Mode and Beautiful Things for his wife! He wins for sweetest answer yet. I can't wait to see what next week's perspective brings!