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December 10, 2024

Photo recap: Meet the Chef with Andres Kaifer

Respecting the old while finding new ways to express himself through food


by TM Petaccia

Our final Meet the Chef dinner of 2024 featured chef Andres Kaifer of Customshop. TM Petaccia/UP

It’s not easy to take over a restaurant with a reputation for extraordinary food and raise the bar even further. However, that’s what chef Andres Kaifer has been doing since he took over Elizabeth’s Customshop from Trey Wilson in 2022. Always respectful of the legacy of the restaurant’s well-established reputation, he has now fully made the restaurant his own.

“When I first took over Customshop, I was very conservative with the menu,” Kaifer said. “I didn’t want to scare any of the regulars away. I wanted to pay homage to what Customshop has been for a long time and ease into changing the menu. We slowly started changing the menu. I started to do what I wanted and express myself through food.”

On Monday night, attendees of our final Meet the Chef dinner of 2024, got an exclusive look of chef Kaifer’s food influences throughout his life, and where he is headed.

Below is a small excerpt of the food and fun guests enjoyed.

Thank you to our sponsor, Vulcan Equipment, for its continuing support of local chefs and farmers. We’re currently working on our dining events in 2025. UP members always get advance notice of ticket sales with a discount. Not yet a paid UP subscriber? Sign up today for exclusive early access to our events and independent food journalism.

The evening’s menu. TM Petaccia/UP
Cocktails before dinner. TM Petaccia/UP
Anticipation grows. TM Petaccia/UP
Amuse — Ventanita — Pastelito de Carne | Croqueta de Jamon | Cafecito. TM Petaccia/UP
Chef Kaifer discusses his culinary roots. TM Petaccia/UP
“Childhood” — Mejillones en Escabeche — Verdant Sourdough | Pickled Mussels | Whipped Garlic. TM Petaccia/UP
“An Inspiration” — Caterina de Medici — Gnocchi | Covington Sweet Potato | Valdeon | Agrodolce | Pistachio. TM Petaccia/UP
UP Editor Kristen Wile poses a question. TM Petaccia/UP
“The Present” — Lechon Asado — Tamal en Cazuela | Mojo Demi | Chicharron. TM Petaccia/UP
“The Future” — Arroz Caldoso — Carolina Gold Rice Middlins | Duck Sausage | NC Shrimp | Pepperonata. TM Petaccia/UP
Chefs supporting chefs. In attendance was Kyle Gaddas, executive chef at The Bottle Tree in Belmont. TM Petaccia/UP
Many guests purchased UP old fashioned syrups and sampler kits. TM Petaccia/UP
Chef Andres Kaifer (C) with new chef de cuisine Matt Moore (L) and sous chef Victoria Lowry (R). TM Petaccia/UP
Chef Kaifer and UP editor Kristen Wile. TM Petaccia.

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