Chef Tim Wood To Open at CVAC

March 4, 2025 – Life is about to become a literal three-ring circus for Carmel Valley chef Tim Wood. In addition to running his award-winning restaurant Woody’s at the Airport and the two-year-old Woody’s at Del Mesa, he’s taking over the café at the Carmel Valley Athletic Club starting at the end of this month.

“I looked at it and it felt right,” says Wood, who’s been a CVAC member for about three years.

“When there’s a need and we think it makes sense and can be sustainable, we go for it,” he says.

Wood, currently recharging his batteries in London with his wife, phoned EMB this afternoon from across the pond to explain that he plans to start small with the new operation—which will be open to non-members as well as members.

Wood’s CVAC kitchen will serve an indoor dining space, an outdoor terrace overlooking the tennis courts and offer poolside service. Catering for tournaments and other special events is also in the cards.

Fresh, healthy foods will dominate the menu at the café which will open about 10:30am and go through lunch and happy hour.

Salads, wraps, burgers and margaritas will be on the opening menu.

“It’s kind of like starting at a gym, you need to find a routine and then listen to what people have to say about the food,” says Wood, who’s also hoping that proximity to the workout room will help motivate him to exercise more.

He wants to add casual, fresh evening menus a couple of times a week, including Taco Tuesdays and some kind of Hump Day menu to give people a reason to take a break from cooking and go out midweek.

Plans call for the café to be open Thursday to Tuesday and closed Wednesdays, but Wood expects to increase to seven days a week once he can staff up.

Between Woody’s at the Airport, the airport snack bar and Woody’s at Del Mesa, Wood says he currently employs about 70 “kooky characters” and rotates them around the venues so they are ready to step in where needed. Soon he’ll be looking for more folks to join the team.