Greg Collier, chef and co-owner of Leah & Louise with his wife Subrina, will not bring home Charlotte’s first James Beard Award this year. Ricky Moore of Saltbox Seafood Joint in Durham was named Best Chef: Southeast at the James Beard Foundation’s awards banquet in Chicago; this was Charlotte’s first time with a chef in contention during the final round.

The Colliers first made their name in Charlotte thanks to The Yolk, a small breakfast spot in Rock Hill that served morning fare with unexpected depth of flavor. As co-founders of the Soul Food Sessions dinner series, both Colliers have led an enormous hand in bringing visibility to Black chefs in the city — something they continue to do through mentoring young Black chefs and with the BayHaven Food and Wine Festival, which debuted last year.

Leah & Louise opened at Camp North End just as the pandemic hit, serving Southern dishes inspired by the couple’s Memphis upbringing and supporting local farmers while doing so. The restaurant brings a refreshing renewal to Southern cuisine. Despite, not bringing home the top award at the James Beard Awards, the Colliers will continue to have a big year in 2022 — aside from expecting their first child, the couple is working on opening several new concepts. 

Collier was the only Charlotte chef nominated for a James Beard Award this year; in recent years, Joe Kindred and Paul Verica have made the semifinalist list. Collier is the first Charlotte chef to advance to the finalist round.