John Terry has spent the vast majority of his life immersed in the French culture, and his career has been inspired and guided by the great French chefs he has had   the opportunity to learn from, including Madeleine Kamman (Julia Child’s TV cooking partner) and Andre Rene. Fluent in the French language, John has lived and worked in France and has an intimate knowledge of French Cuisine. He is a French-trained chef who has worked in the food industry for 20 years as a chef and restaurant management.
In 1981, Terry met Madeleine Kamman in his native Maine, where she urged him to attend her cooking school in Annecy, France. Upon his return to the US in 1982, Terry met his mentor, Chef Andre Rene, a New York legend who went on to open the Rainbow Room and Windows on the World and furthered many culinary greats that worked under him at the Helmsley Palace. After four years rising from Pantry Attendant to Garde Manger, Terry went again to France in 1984 where he received his chef training in Paris and worked at the Hotel George V.
Upon his return to New York in 1986, Terry served as Executive Sous Chef at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Chef for Glorious Food, and Chef for the ITT Sheraton. He has also worked at the Great Plaza and Park Lane Hotels.
In 1992, as creator and Executive Chef partner of Les Routiers, a French restaurant on the Upper West Side, Terry was responsible for the restaurant selection as a top 10 Beajulais Bistro Cup by the New York Times. At Restaurant Associates’ Chef Lincoln Center in 1995, he managed large scale events for many of Manhattan’s cultural institutions.
As a Consultant, Terry opened a number of Restaurants including the Jane Street Cafe, La Bonne Place, which garnered 3 stars from both, Gourmet Magazine and the New York Times upon opening.
Since 1997, Terry was a Principle and Managing Partner of Le Taxi, a Bistro on Manhattan's East Side. Involved in all aspects of marketing, promotion, redesign, lighting, and staffing, he has succeeded in turning a borderline organization into a profitable one with no cash investment.
In 2001, Terry began an adventure in the Front of House working with Ira Frehoff growing his one restaurant into three locations of the famous comfort diner. 
From 2004-2009 Terry managed some exceptional and extremely successful restaurants in New York City, including Rue 57, owned by Mark Packer of the Restaurant Group, as well as Trattoria Dell’Arte, which is presided over Shelli Fireman of the Fireman Group.
Terry, who holds a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management, has won awards for originality from the Societe Culinaire Philantrophique New York, and has been a member of the Confrerie de la Chaine des Rottiscurs, American Sommelier Society.
He has joined our team as a Head Chef at A Sprig of Thyme and we love his energy and passion for food and life!