BristolLADIES’ CHOICE All-female chef team supervises Bristol Hard Rock Cafe kitchen (copy) David McGee Mar 19, 2026 Mar 19, 2026 0 Hard Rock Café Head Chef Thunder Van Riper seasons fries inside the kitchen where she leads an all-female kitchen team of chefs and sous chefs. Emily Ball Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save David McGee Hard Rock Café Head Chef Thunder Van Riper talks about working in an women heavy kitchen staff. kAmq#x$%~{[ '2] – ~? %F6D52J[ w2C5 r27é w625 r967 %9F?56C '2? #:A6C 6IA6CE=J E@DD65 2 3@H= @7 uC6?49 7C:6D :? 2 D62D@?:?8 >:I 2?5 E6?565 E@ 2 DE62< @? E96 8C:==]k^Am Hard Rock Café sous chef Sarah Addison organizes food for the wait staff to deliver to guest. Emily Ball kAm~? 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E96 &]$][ 2?5 E96 qC:DE@= =@42E:@? :D E96 @?=J @?6 >2?2865 3J 2? 2==\76>2=6 E62> @7 4967D 2?5 D@FD 4967D]k^Am kAm'2? #:A6C D2:5 E9:D :D 2 F?:BF6 @AA@CEF?:EJ :? 96C =6?8E9J 42C66C @7 H@C<:?8 :? 7@@5 AC6A2C2E:@?]k^Am People are also reading… New attorney is representing Wolfe as case moves forward Chilhowie man faces multiple charges in domestic violence incident Smyth supervisor seeks more communication from Thomas Bridge Water system Blacksburg elementary principal among 17 men arrested in prostitution case Atkins Elementary celebrates new community-engaged playground Meet Smyth County's Pet of the Week: Sable Quadruple amputee cornhole player wanted for murder arrested in Albemarle County Virginia's proposed congressional districts and who is running | Special Report Marion council members debate apolitical status with redistricting, 2A requests 5 things to know about legalizing marijuana in Virginia What we know about the quadruple amputee cornhole champ arrested for murder in Virginia With election underway, court could have final say on redistricting | Special Report Chilhowie reports on water quality, looks at system growth Smyth250 activities kick off Sunday with free movie Saltville begins preparations for pool season kAm“~FC 4967 E62> :D 76>2=6 2?5 x 92G6 E9C66 D@FD 4967D H9@ 2C6 2== 76>2=6 2D H6==[” '2? #:A6C D2:5] “x? 255:E:@? E@ E92E[ 92=7 @7 >J 4@@< E62> :D 76>2=6 2D H6==[ H9:49 :D AC6EEJ F?FDF2=]k^Am Hard Rock Café Head Chef Thunder Van Riper talks about how inspiring it is the work with other women leadership at Hard Rock Bristol. kAm“x? 2== >J af J62CD[ x’G6 ?6G6C 925 2 76>2=6 D@FD 4967] %96J’G6 2=H2JD 366? 8FJD[” D96 D2:5] “x’G6 366? 2 D@FD 4967…xE’D FDF2==J 366? >6 2?5 @?6 @C EH@ @E96C H@>6? :? 2 <:E496? @7 b_ @C c_ @E96C A6@A=6] xE’D 364@>:?8 >@C6 4@>>@? E96D6 52JD 3FE E9:D :D E96 7:CDE E:>6 x’G6 925 D@ >2?J H@>6? @? >J E62>] xE’D 2>2K:?8]”k^Am kAm(96? D96 H2D 86EE:?8 DE2CE65 2?5 2=@?8 E96 H2J[ 2== @7 96C >6?E@CD H6C6 >6?]k^Am kAm“%96C6 2C6 D@>6 8C62E 76>2=6 4967D @FE E96C6] pAC:= q=@@>7:6=5[ v23C:6==6 w2>:=E@? :D @?6 @7 >J A6CD@?2= 72G@C:E6D[” D96 D2:5] “xE’D E96 8C:E @7 ;FDE DE2J:?8 E96 4@FCD6 2?5 ?@H 36:?8 23=6 E@ D66 >JD6=7 36:?8 @?6 @7 E9@D6 H@>6? – H9@ 2C6 J@F?86C E92? >6 – H9@ 2C6 :? >J <:E496? ?@H]”k^Am Hard Rock Café Head Chef Thunder Van Riper pulls freshly prepared meals out of the kitchen window to be taken to guests. Emily Ball kAm'2? #:A6C D2:5 D96 DEC:G6D E@ EC62E 6G6CJ@?6 E96 D2>6]k^Am kAm“xE’D C62==J :>A@CE2?E E@ >6 E92E A6@A=6 2C6 6>A@H6C65 E@ 5@ E96:C ;@3D] %92E E96J 92G6 E96 <?@H=6586 E92E x’> E6249:?8…x ECJ E@ 8:G6 6G6CJ@?6 2EE6?E:@? 2?5 6BF2= @AA@CEF?:EJ…%96C6 :D 2 =@E @7 76>2=6 =6256CD9:A @? 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D66 96CD6=7 2?5 H96C6 D96’D 8@:?8]”k^Am Hard Rock Café Sous Chef Sarah Addison talks about the environment while working in the kitchen at Hard Rock Cafe. kAmp55:D@?[ @7 z:?8DA@CE[ :D A2CE @7 E96 E62> @7 D@FD 4967D]k^Am kAm“%9:D :D E96 7:CDE E:>6 x’G6 6G6C H@C<65 H:E9 2? 2==\76>2=6 E62> :? 2 <:E496?[” p55:D@? D2:5] “(96? J@F 92G6 2 8C62E 8C@FA @7 A6@A=6 H@C<:?8 E@86E96C :E >2<6D E9:?8D 92AA6?[ C682C5=6DD @7 E96 D:EF2E:@?] (96? J@F 92G6 2 8C@FA @7 76>2=6D E@86E96C[ E96J’C6 4@?DE2?E=J DFAA@CE:?8 J@F] tG6? H96? J@F’C6 92G:?8 2 325 52J @C J@F’C6 92G:?8 2 8C62E 52J[ E96J’C6 8@:?8 E@ 36 J@FC 4966C=6256C…(96? J@F 92G6 2 8@@5 8C@FA @7 A6@A=6 E96C6 E@ DFAA@CE J@F :E C62==J >2<6D 2 9F86 5:776C6?46]”k^AmkAmp55:D@? 42==65 :E “2? 23D@=FE6 9@?@C” E@ H@C< 7@C '2? #:A6C]k^Am kAm“x’G6 2=C625J =62C?65 D@ >F49…%9:?8D E92E D96’D =62C?65 7C@> @E96C =@42E:@?D[ E9:?8D D96’D :>A=6>6?E65 96C6 92G6 96=A65 >6] %96C6 :D @3G:@FD=J >@C6 E92? @?6 H2J E@ 5@ 6G6CJE9:?8[” D96 D2:5]k^Am kAmp55:D@? 92D H@C<65 :? 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F?E:= a 2]>]k^Am dmcgee@bristolnews.com | Twitter: @DMcGeeBHC 0 Comments Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. David McGee Author email Follow David McGee Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Related to this story Most Popular New attorney is representing Wolfe as case moves forward The criminal case against Robert Nolan Wolfe, 50, of Marion, is continuing to make its way through the court system. Chilhowie man faces multiple charges in domestic violence incident After further investigation, Ayers arrested again and charged with one count of aggravated malicious wounding and one count of malicious wounding. Smyth supervisor seeks more communication from Thomas Bridge Water system Rick Billings went to a faucet in his home and turned it on. No water came out. Blacksburg elementary principal among 17 men arrested in prostitution case Kipps Elementary Principal Mark Crummey was among 17 men arrested at a Christiansburg hotel last week. Atkins Elementary celebrates new community-engaged playground A Friday ribbon-cutting ceremony at Atkins Elementary celebrated more than a decade of work. Officials, funders, school staff and students gat… Watch Now: Related Video The Supreme Court to hear arguments this week over Trump’s birthright citizenship order ‘They have to survive’: Trump allows Russian oil into Cuba despite sanctions ‘They have to survive’: Trump allows Russian oil into Cuba despite sanctions Apollo to Artemis: A look at the legacy of NASA’s moon missions and what’s next AP Apollo to Artemis: A look at the legacy of NASA’s moon missions and what’s next DHS funding out of reach after GOP rejects deal DHS funding out of reach after GOP rejects deal
David McGee Author email Follow David McGee Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today
New attorney is representing Wolfe as case moves forward The criminal case against Robert Nolan Wolfe, 50, of Marion, is continuing to make its way through the court system.
Chilhowie man faces multiple charges in domestic violence incident After further investigation, Ayers arrested again and charged with one count of aggravated malicious wounding and one count of malicious wounding.
Smyth supervisor seeks more communication from Thomas Bridge Water system Rick Billings went to a faucet in his home and turned it on. No water came out.
Blacksburg elementary principal among 17 men arrested in prostitution case Kipps Elementary Principal Mark Crummey was among 17 men arrested at a Christiansburg hotel last week.
Atkins Elementary celebrates new community-engaged playground A Friday ribbon-cutting ceremony at Atkins Elementary celebrated more than a decade of work. Officials, funders, school staff and students gat…
