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… Mount Rogers NRA updates Smyth County on Grindstone, overlook, ponies and more Smyth County School Board honors Marion Senior High FFA advisers, others Longtime produce growers to continue Walker's Market Richmond judge dismisses Republican bid to block new maps Sugar Grove Elementary students experience the power of kindness 3 juveniles face charges following Smyth, Wythe pursuit on I-81 23rd annual Older Americans Day coming up in Chilhowie Smyth Commonwealth's Attorney honors Saltville officer Smyth commissioner's office expands its community outreach Trump safe after being rushed from White House correspondents dinner; shooter in custody Vayda is ready to find her forever home Redistricting before Va. Supreme Court: Sides disagree over definition of an election Virginia K-12 schools don’t have mental health curriculum 2 years after bill passed Man who escaped in Marion has history of escapes, assaults Ballad Health Medical Associates names new chief financial officer 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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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 Mount Rogers NRA updates Smyth County on Grindstone, overlook, ponies and more A conversation initiated to get information about Grindstone Campground’s future expanded to include Skulls Gap, Glade Mountain Road, getting … Smyth County School Board honors Marion Senior High FFA advisers, others Over the past two years, Marion Senior High School’s FFA team has earned state titles in competition and represented Virginia in national programs. 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Mount Rogers NRA updates Smyth County on Grindstone, overlook, ponies and more A conversation initiated to get information about Grindstone Campground’s future expanded to include Skulls Gap, Glade Mountain Road, getting …
Smyth County School Board honors Marion Senior High FFA advisers, others Over the past two years, Marion Senior High School’s FFA team has earned state titles in competition and represented Virginia in national programs.
Longtime produce growers to continue Walker's Market A couple who has been growing vegetables for nearly 40 years and who possessed a longtime relationship with the late Gene Walker is going to e…
Richmond judge dismisses Republican bid to block new maps On the eve of a closely watched Virginia Supreme Court hearing on redistricting, a Richmond judge dismissed a Republican bid to block Virginia…
Sugar Grove Elementary students experience the power of kindness In addition to their class subjects, Sugar Grove Elementary students are learning about small acts of kindness and the power of kindness when …
