August 20, 2026
Charlotte chefs contend for Chef of the Year title
A winner will be announced Sept. 2
by Kristen Wile
It’s time to cheer on our city. The North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association’s annual Chef Showdown finalists have been selected, and eight of the 26 chefs, pastry chefs, and mixology competitors are from Charlotte.
On Sept. 2 in Durham, chefs from across the state will gather to serve tastes of dishes made using North Carolina ingredients, while mixologists will serve cocktails in collaboration with local distilleries. Judges will select a Chef of the Year, Pastry Chef of the Year, and Mixologist of the Year, while attendees will vote on their favorites for fan-selected recognition.
This year, at the competition’s 10th anniversary, Charlotte will be represented by the following hospitality talents:
Mixologists:
Ashley Sarkis of Yunta with Muddy River Distilling
Zach Benson of Supperland with Outer Banks Distilling
Pastry chefs:
Josh Dobson of Peppervine
Lei Van Note of Stoke
Chefs:
Ericka Torres, STOKE
Brandon Staton, Supperland
Matt Moore, Custom Shop
Lewis Donald, Sweet Lew’s BBQ
Last year, Charlotte’s Luis Rojas of Stoke brought home the Pastry Chef of the Year title, while chef Matt Deering (then at Dot Dot Dot, currently at Peppervine) was Charlotte’s most recent Chef of the Year with a win in 2024.
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