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November 10, 2025
Unpretentious Palate’s 2025 People of the Year
Meet the winners of our annual hospitality awards
by TM Petaccia
On Monday, Nov. 10, Charlotte’s hospitality industry and the city’s most dedicated diners gathered at The Visulite Theatre to honor Unpretentious Palate‘s 2025 People of the Year at our fifth annual UPPY Awards. Winners were announced live at the event and each shared a few words of acceptance with words about craft, perseverance, community, and the joy of feeding people well. It was a reminder of why this industry matters here. The connections made in dining rooms, over bartops, at farmers markets, at storefronts, and across our diverse neighborhoods form the everyday foundation of how Charlotteans eat, gather, and support each other.
Thank you to everyone who joined us! If you’d like to support UP and our mission to highlight the city’s culinary professionals, consider becoming a member today or sign up for Unpretentious Palate’s free newsletter.
Congratulations to all of our winners and finalists!
Farmers of the Year
Winners: Joe & Amy Rohrer
Boy & Girl Farm
Meeting ambitious standards on a modest footprint, Joe and Amy Rohrer’s Boy & Girl Farm in Waxhaw gets the most out of a modest space. Using roughly 10 acres year-round, the couple produces more than 60 varieties of fruits and vegetables without herbicides or fungicides. They serve loyal customers via their storefront and the Waxhaw Farmers Market, while also supplying chef-driven restaurants throughout the Charlotte area. With deep roots in sustainable farming, soil health, generational commitment, and strong ties to the local culinary community, the Rohrers set a standard for what local agriculture can mean.
Finalists:
Elizabeth Ann Dover-Bishop, The Farm at Dover Vineyards
Sammy Koenigsberg, New Town Farms
Food Artisans of the Year
Winners: Sam Chappelle & Yerman Carrasquero
Vicente Bakery & Bistro
Located in South End but making city-wide waves, founders Sam Chappelle and Yerman Carrasquero have built a bakery where croissants, kouign-amanns, Venezuelan golfeados, and laminated artistry are no longer indulgences but daily rituals. Their pastries disappear fast, with 1,000 to 1,400 croissants enjoyed on busy weekends, underscoring a loyal following built on excellence and commitment. With an open kitchen and scratch-baking ethos, Vicente turns every item into a performance of science and soul.
Finalists:
Kristiana Perini, Sorellina Pasta Co.
Tanner Fink & Jaymin Mcaffrey, Verdant Bread
Food Truck of the Year
Winner: El Veneno
At just 25, chef-owner Kimmy Bazan has turned El Veneno into a fearless force in Charlotte’s street food scene. She cooks not to appease, but to express, offering Mexican street food that is unapologetically her own. After a short, sadly frustrating, stint at Monarch Market, Bazan returned to her truck roots to reclaim the fire in her, serving dishes like smoky black al pastor, multi-regional moles, and rotating specials rooted in Mexico City and other traditions. Bazan challenges palates and expands what Charlotte thinks of as “Mexican.” Her bold identity, consistency, and unwavering belief in her vision make El Veneno a bright spot amongst Charlotte food trucks.
Finalists:
Chutney Cat
Queen City Cheesesteaks
Non-restaurant Chef of the Year
Winner: Michael Le
Hello Uncle
Born out of a fundraiser for a friend in need of financial support due to unexpected medical bills, Hello Uncle has become a hospitality industry and local favorite. Chef Le first came to Charlotte to run omakase concept Kappo En, behind Menya Durama. Despite only expecting a limited run with Hello Uncle, Le and his Southeast Asian now fare pop up regularly at Substrate and Bar a Vins due to popular demand, with a new menu each time. Le’s Hello Uncle has not only introduced Charlotte to chef-driven Southeast Asian fare, he’s helped start a pop-up revolution.
Finalists:
Andrew King, The Butler’s Pantry
Ammalu Saleh, Serengeti Kitchen
Sommelier of the Year
Presented by 3 Keys Wine Distributing
Winner: Matt Green
Substrate
Shaping Charlotte’s wine culture beyond trendiness, Matt Green has created a wine oasis with purpose, passion, and a clear sense of place. Thanks to his visionary work at the Optimist Park wine bar, Charlotte wine lovers have found a source for unexpected and under-appreciated wines from regions such as Slovenia, Georgia, Lebanon, Southern Chile, and other global sources. His playful yet uncompromising wine aesthetic has created an environment where discovery and conviviality meet.
Finalists:
Danny Ike, Albertine
Michael Myers, Counter-
Mixologist of the Year
Winner: Rhea Buck
Leluia Hall
Rhea Buck has pretty much stepped on every cocktail ladder rung of the Tonidandel-Brown restaurant group ecosystem. Now the bar manager at Leluia Hall, she has helped anchor the menu in tropical and continental influences and rum-forward expressions in concert with James Beard semifinalist Colleen Hughes (2022 UPPY Mixologist of the Year). Her fluency across spirits from rum and pisco to lesser-known liqueurs allows her to build nuanced, layered drinks that feel both familiar and adventurous. Warm, curious, and ever thoughtful, Buck elevates every pour with intention, making her uniquely suited to lead Charlotte’s cocktail evolution.
Finalists:
Amanda Britton, Spaghett
Tomas Cordoba, Rada
General Manager of the Year
Winner: Jamie Alicea
Rada
Myers Park restaurant Rada was one of the city’s most-talked-about restaurants this year, thanks to an experience that has the elevated service and style of a big-city spot. Alicea, who previously worked at Counter- and Folia, leads the team at Rada with poise and confidence, setting a stage for a meal at Rada to be nearly flawless with meal pacing, recommendations, and table touches. She brings a warm yet unflappable presence to the front-of-house at Rada, setting the example of the restaurant’s impeccable service style.
Finalists:
Tim Freer, Cajun Queen
Brad Grubb, Yunta Nikkei
Chef to Watch
Winner: Matt Moore
Customshop
With his emphasis on farm-driven dining, chef Matt Moore’s move from Vana then Vinyl to become chef de cuisine at Customshop was a fitting one. With a cooking philosophy that matches Customshop chef/owner Andres Kaifer, Moore has the opportunity to further refine his skill in a kitchen that reflects the cuisine of Charlotte: one that centers on the goods grown here. This chef has a resume that already includes working with some of the city’s most creative, locally-focused chefs. Combined with his own dedication to the craft, we expect to see Moore have a large impact on Charlotte’s culinary scene.
Finalists:
Kendall Moore, Spaghett
Kerrel Thompson, Bird Pizzeria
UPlifting Industry Member of the Year
Winner: Chayil Johnson
Community Matters Cafe
Chayil Johnson’s leadership at Community Matters Café goes far beyond cooking. Under his guidance, the café has graduated more than 160 participants who once had few or no other options, giving them a pathway to self-sufficiency. Known for his unfailing optimism and genuine warmth, Johnson has a way of inspiring those around him simply through his presence. His belief in others often becomes the spark that rekindles their belief in themselves. His deep compassion, stability under pressure, and respectful mentorship have turned the café into a community of restoration, not just employment. In a city with many talented chefs, Johnson stands out for combining culinary excellence with real grassroots social impact.
Finalists:
Mark Allison, Fork Cancer/Chefs Against Cancer
Sam Diminich, Your Farms Your Table/ Restaurant Constance/ Ben’s Friend’s
Pastry Chef of the Year
Winner: Savannah Foltz
Supperland / Leluia Hall
Savannah Foltz is redefining the beauty of classic American desserts through creativity and skillful execution. Her style leans toward the heartier, homespun side of pastry such as cobblers, crumbles, sundaes, and all things wonderfully gooey, yet each is elevated through her keen eye for detail and refined technique. She proves warmth and sophistication aren’t opposites, but partners in creating desserts that feel both personal and expertly composed.
Finalists:
Faith Morley, Counter-
Samantha Ward, L’Ostrica
Nonprofit of the Year
Winner: The Bulb
Meeting the needs in Charlotte’s food deserts, The Bulb has become a vital force for food justice and community wellness. Through its mobile farmers markets and partnerships with local farms, the nonprofit provides fresh, nutritious produce and pantry staples to neighborhoods where access is most limited. By prioritizing dignity, education, and sustainability, The Bulb empowers residents to make healthier choices while reducing food waste and strengthening local agriculture. Its grassroots model of compassion and collaboration continues to nourish not only Charlotte’s communities but its spirit of equity and care.
Finalists:
Charlotte Food Policy Council
Giving Kitchen
Chef of the Year
Winner: Andres Kaifer
Customshop
With a menu that travels the globe while holding fast to his Cuban roots, Andres Kaifer brings a bold, personal touch to Customshop’s dishes. Deeply influenced by his family’s culinary heritage, Kaifer channels that passion into cooking that honors tradition while constantly exploring new uncharted courses. His Charlotte menu is inspired by local ingredients using traditional and modern techniques. Dishes like hamachi crudo with crispy corn and leche de tigre, Rohan duck with sweet potato purée, and NC shrimp bucatini show Kaifer’s skill at transforming familiar flavors into elevated statements. Partnering with his talent for balance and richness is an ethos of neighborhood accessibility made exceptional.
Finalists:
Jonny Cox, Seaboy
Joe Kindred, Albertine/Kindred/Hello Sailor/Milkbread
Restaurant of the Year
Winner: Albertine
Joe and Katy Kindred’s first fine dining foray into Charlotte proper, Albertine, marks another evolution of the multiple James Beard Award–nominated, and now Michelin-recommended team behind Kindred and Hello Sailor. Combining Mediterranean flavors with graceful nods to the owners’ Southern core, Albertine delivers a menu that bridges the old world with new, offering both comfort and sophistication. The experience is advanced further by an expertly curated wine list, with staff offering thoughtful pairing advice, along with a well-rounded cocktail program. Its opulent setting easily compares to the elevated dining rooms of days gone by, but with today’s sense of line and color. Albertine pairs culinary precision with flawless, intuitive, well-dressed service. The result is a stand out dining experience that is equally polished and welcoming.
Finalists:
L’Ostrica
Leluia Hall
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UNPRETENTIOUS PALATE is a digital publication covering food and drink in Charlotte. At UP, you’ll find ethical food journalism that isn’t based on free meals. We’ll be your taste testers around the city, letting you know where you can’t miss and where to skip. And we’ll ban any condescending food-writer speak. We’ll tell you the dishes we love, where to go on date night, and the best places for cocktails. You can trust us.
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