These chefs push the limits. They have perfected both classic and unconventional techniques. They have embraced new, unusual, and local ingredients. They are the engine of our citys enterprising epicurean movement.
Paul Verica
Heritage Food and Drink
The accolades and awards for this Waxhaw restaurant are piling up but dont expect Chef Paul Verica to rest on his laurels. Heritage Food and Drink is Vericas dream come true – his legacy – hence the hours upon hours he puts in each week striving to perfect his establishment. And the hardwork is paying off. The restaurant is packed to the brim most nights with guests excited to experience Heritages inventive and original menu. Verica abides with a style that pushes the envelope and combines modern techniques with classic culinary precision. Verica changes the menu daily in order to put out the best product he possibly can while also taking advantage of the fresh, diverse local produce, meats, and poultry available in our region.
heritagefoodanddrink.com
Michael Bowling
Hot Box Food Truck
Chef Michael Bowling is a fighter, through and through. He was forced to close his first restaurant to fight kidney disease – he went through major surgery including a kidney and pancreas transplant. Those health complications did not stop him from pursuing his dream. After his recovery, Bowling went right back to work improving his skills and techniques. His hard work has paid off with Hot Box, his food truck, where he serves up some of the finest street food in the city including tasty ramen, very popular quesadillas, and his delightful pork belly slider.
hotboxstfood.com
Tim Groody
Fork!
When Tim Groody opened Fork! in Cornelius he was welcomed with open arms. Known as the spearhead of the farm-to-table movement, Groody has had relationships with the areas best farmers for nearly two decades. This guarantees that he can offer guests the best local ingredients. However, what Groody does with these local ingredients is what makes him and his Fork! special. With experience garnered from the worlds best including Jean Georges Vongerichten and Daniel Boulud, Groody, executes tasty small plates to complex entrees with ease.
forkrestaurantcornelius.com
Larry Schreiber
Stagioni
Larry Schreiber, exectuive chef at Stagioni, prepares some of the finest Italian cuisine in the city. With an emphasis on high quality products and a special attention-to-detail, Larry Schreiber separates himself from the competition. His spirit infuses with his cooking and that makes all the difference in the world.
stagioniclt.com
Ben Philpott
Block and Grinder
Ben Philpott has revolutionized the Providence Road eatery, Block And Grinder, with his creative twists on dishes like his braised short rib or Heritage Farms pork chop. As a restaurant and butcher shop that specializes in everything beef, Philpotts ability to cook the perfect steak, from a New York Strip to a Filet, makes him invaluable. His imaginative style of cooking is on display with Block And Grinders many delectable small plates from his inventive lamb lollypops and roasted bone marrow to the beef tartare and carpaccio.
blockandgrinder.com
Kyle Rhodes
NAN & BYRONS
Having worked under Bruce Moffett at Barringtons and Jamie Lynch at 5Church, Kyle Rhodes, the new executive chef at Nan & Byrons has a culinary pedigree that is second-to-none. He brings an innovative and prolific style to the kitchen. Along with the amazing cuisine already present at the South End hot spot including the Delmonico, the Crispy Beet Burger, and applewood smoked bacon and white truffle oil Deviled Eggs, expect some new and exciting dishes from Rhodes in the near future.
nanandbyrons.com
Brendan Treyball
True Crafted Pizza
Brendan Treyballs family owned multiple four star restaurants in competitive New York state and because of that, Treyball has been around the restaurant industry since he was a kid. He brings an enormous amount of experience and skill to True Crafted Pizza. He meshes intricate ingredients and flavors to deliver a perfect pizza. Just try the BLT, Proscuitto di Parma, or the Bacon & Egg pizza and you will agree. But his skills dont stop at perfectly grilled pizza. Treyball executes rich dishes like house-made meatballs and meatball parmigiana with ease. Although he prepares traditionally heavy Italian dishes, Treyballs meals dont weigh you down. Instead they are much lighter and much healthier yet still fill you up with deliciousness.
truepizza.com
