Charlotte Stories is reporting that a Charlotte chef has just advanced to the final round of the world renowned James Beard Awards. Sam Hart, the creative force behind West Charlotte’s Counter, is now just one step away from being crowned the “Best Chef in the Southeast”.
The James Beard Foundation’s prestigious awards program celebrates extraordinary skill in the culinary and food media sectors. Often compared to the Oscars of the culinary world, the James Beard Awards honor the best of the best across all facets of the culinary world.
Hart is now facing off against 4 of the other top chefs in the Southeast:
Best Chef: Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV)
- Sam Fore, Tuk Tuk Sri Lankan Bites, Lexington, KY
- Josh Habiger, Bastion, Nashville, TN
- Sam Hart, Counter-, Charlotte, NC
- Terry Koval, The Deer and the Dove, Decatur, GA
- Paul Smith, 1010 Bridge, Charleston, WV
The awards will be given out to the winners at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony on Monday, June 5, 2023, at the Lyric Opera House in Chicago. Photo credit: Charlotte Stories
Sam Hart is the owner and chef at West Charlotte’s Counter- Photo credit: Charlotte Business Journal