Lead Staff

Brian Grimley
Chef/Co-Owner

Brett Heritage
Executive Chef

Melanie Grimley
Front House Manager/Co-Owner

Cooking up "a little something extra"
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Brian Grimley

Chef/Co-Owner

Originally from the South of England, Chef Owner Brian Grimley is a self-taught chef who worked his way through college cooking in restaurants, graduating with a degree in engineering. It was only upon embarking on his career in engineering that he found he enjoyed the work he did to put himself through college more than the work he was doing post-graduation.

After moving to the United States to pursue a culinary career and spending 25 years in the Tidewater District of Virginia, Brian and his wife Melanie moved to Northeast Florida eight years ago to explore the culinary secrets of the South while owning and operating Lulu’s at The Thompson House in downtown Fernandina Beach.

Lagniappe is the culmination of everything Brian has learned about food, service and hospitality in the South, with strong influences from cities like Charleston, New Orleans and Savannah. His passion for seeking out the best ingredients possible is evident in every dish at Lagniappe, as is his love of entertaining.

Brett Heritage

Executive Chef

Chef Brett Heritage is a Fernandina Beach local, having gotten his start in the kitchen as part of the Fernandina Beach High School Culinary Program before going on to graduate from culinary school at Florida State College at Jacksonville. Working his way up from dishwasher to Executive Chef over the years, he's worked at 29 South, Osprey Village, the Ritz Carlton Amelia Island and more.

Chef Brett takes pride in using fresh local ingredients, from homegrown herbs to homemade pasta, and enjoys working with local farming partners. Like all of us, he incorporates the idea of lagniappe—a little something extra—into his cooking, taking basic dishes and finding a way to kick them up a notch. He's excited about bringing his spin on French favorites with tried and true Southern flair to Lagniappe. 

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