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April 21, 2022
Where Chefs Eat: L’Ostrica’s Eric Ferguson
This chef has international palate that expands beyond Italy
Folks in the restaurant industry know good food, so we want to know where they eat when they’re not cooking. In this series, we ask a local chef, bartender, restaurateur, or server to share their favorite restaurants in town and what they order there. This week, we interviewed Eric Ferguson, the chef behind Italian pop-up and delivery concept L’Ostrica. Ferguson, also the former chef at Stagioni, has an appreciation for authentic Italian food, but his palate ranges across the globe with a focus on quality products.
Aqua e Vino, Cotswold
A small dining room with handmade, high-end pastas and seasonal entrées
Eric’s order: Any of Chef Gabriele’s crudos
Prime Fish, Ballantyne
An upscale spot beloved for its fresh sushi
Eric’s order: Salmon belly nigiri
Pro tip: Sit at the counter, get the hamachi kama, and ask for a sake recommendation
Peppervine, SouthPark
A modern American restaurant that emphasizes local products, pasture-raised meats, and wine
Eric’s order: Fried oysters
Open Rice, Ballantyne
A Hong Kong-inspired restaurant specializing in classic Asian dishes
Eric’s order: Curry laksa
Osteria LuCa, Montford
An authentic Italian restaurant in Park Road Shopping Center
Eric’s order: Garden pizza with pepperoni
More from this series:
Patrick Gourmet’s Patrick Garrivier
Counter-‘s Sam Hart
Community Matters Cafe’s Ashley Anna Tuttle
Your Farms, Your Table’s Sam Diminich
Para’s Alex Verica