by Kristen Wile

The speeches keep getting better.

On Monday night at The UPPYs, chefs, beverage professionals, nonprofit volunteers, front-of-house folks, and more came to the Visulite Theatre stage to accept awards in our annual People of the Year celebration. 

The acceptance speeches ranged from hilarious to tear-inducing, but they all had one thing in common: they were inspiring. 

Here are a few standout lines from Monday’s awards ceremony. See the winners here.

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“The same kitchens I learned to cook in as a kid are the same kitchens I learned to use and drink in. With Ben’s Friends, we get to break the cycle.” 

— Chef Sam Diminich, Your Farms Your Table, representing Nonprofit of the Year finalist Ben’s Friends

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“Everyone please keep pushing, in this room. Every day, pushing as hard as we are to get us here tonight so that we can keep Charlotte moving forward. It is the most important thing that we’re doing and everyone is noticing and we feel it, and it feels really good. So let’s keep it up.”

— Chef Eric Ferguson of L’Ostrica, Chef of the Year

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“I feel seen and incredibly appreciated and acknowledged for just being fundamentally who I am. I take pride in choosing to live life through the lens of being positive, it is an active choice. We live in a world that can seem to be full of negativity, with reasons to be cynical and with schedules that have people living lives that are filled full, not fulfilling.

This is my secret: my goodwill and positive nature is just as much for you and for our community as it is for me. There’s a social psychology term called mirrored reciprocity. It is the phenomenon where people tend to mirror the behaviors, attitudes, or emotions of those they interact with, often subconsciously. When one person acts warmly or positively, the other is likely to respond in the same manner. AKA when you bring the hype or joy, you often get hype or joy back.”

— Matt Martin of Freshlist, UPlifting Person of the Year

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“I’m very thankful to, once again, the people in this industry. We’re warriors, real warriors. Even if you don’t win an award tonight, I see you, I’m with you. I remember working through COVID with you. Running out to cars. I see you Tché, and I see all y’all. You work, and do some really hard body work together. And like I said, the accolades don’t make you. It’s your actual work. And sometimes nobody would see you. But I see you.”

—Justin Hazelton, Lorem Ipsum, Mixologist of the Year

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“Leave and resent the craft for years — just to realize it’s what you’re made to do and make a comeback of a lifetime… just like Freddie.

When you tell Sam Diminich that you can be his pastry chef and build a program and he says no — keep pushing until he says yes… just like Freddie.

When the new young guns want to be lazy to the point you lose your shit… like Freddie. grow from it.

…I know comparing my experiences of highs and lows in this industry to those of legendary rock star Freddie Mercury is a bit of a stretch, but what I do know is that Freddie Mercury didn’t actually like “Fat Bottomed Girls,” but he went on stage every night and did his f***ing job.”

—Ann Marie Stefaney, Your Farm Your Table, Pastry Chef of the Year

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“Some people say that the opposite of addiction is sobriety, but really we believe the opposite of addiction is community.”

—Chef Chayil Johnson, speaking on behalf of Nonprofit of the Year winner Community Matters Cafe

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We hope all of our finalists felt the love! We left Monday night feeling so inspired and excited for this city’s culinary future, and we can’t wait for next year.

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