Chef Patrick McCandless brings over 12 years experience to the culinary industry. He is a graduate of Sullivan University's National Center for Hospitality Studies with a degree in Culinary Arts. During his studies he received the President's Cup Award and an Academic Medal of Honor. Chef McCandless's culinary training began in his home town of Vincennes, Indiana. At a young age he began studying and fine tuning his techniques under Pea-fections Chef/Owner and Johnson and Wales graduate Bill Stenger. While attending school he worked in some of the finest restaurants in Louisville, Kentucky. Upon graduating he studied under Chef Anoosh Shariat, who at the time was Executive Chef at Park Place on Main.

Chef McCandless moved to Bloomington in 2007 working at several establishments getting the feel for what Bloomington patrons wanted before setting his sights on Chapman's in the spring of 2010. Chef McCandless has brought many much needed changes to Chapman's making it one of the top restaurants in Bloomington.