On Monday, Nov. 4, Charlotte’s hospitality industry and the city’s most dedicated diners gathered at The Visulite Theatre to honor Unpretentious Palate‘s 2024 People of the Year at our fourth annual UPPY Awards. Winners were announced live at the event and each shared a few words of acceptance and inspiration. 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!

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Farmer of the Year

WINNER: MARY ROBERTS
Windcrest Farm
Located in Monroe, Windcrest Farm is a fully USDA Certified organic greenhouse and farm. Roberts supplies farmers and home gardeners with more than 300,000 heirloom vegetable, flower, herb and fruit plants each year — including specialty and hard-to-find plant varieties — as well as growing fresh produce for local farmers markets and restaurants. The farm is particularly known for its annual ginger and turmeric farm shares as well as its on-the-farm classes. Roberts came to farming from a background in marketing — which is evident in her informative newsletters and social media posts.

Finalists:
Amy & Joe Rohrer, Boy & Girl Farm
Kim Shaw & Rohan Gibbs, Small City Farm

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Food Artisan of the Year

WINNER: HANNAH NEVILLE
Honeybear Bake Shop
A 2022 UPPY Finalist, Neville’s cookies, cookie cakes, brownies, and other select pastries remain a favorite of sweet tooths all over town, available at pop-up events, farmers markets, and mail order. The former pastry chef at 5Church (now Church and Union) and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Neville rotates a wide array of popular, creative, and seasonal flavors, such as Tiramisu Oreos, Pumpkin S’mores, and Slutty Brownie Cookies.

Finalists:
Norma Zuniga, Dulce Dreams Café
Mary Jayne Wilson, Thoughtful Baking Co.

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Food Truck of the Year

Presented by Julie Everakes, ReMax Realtor

WINNER: CHOP CHOP RED POT
Chop Chop Red Pot focuses on Southern-inspired street food with a series of daily special menus that resemble fine dining dishes served on paper plates, such as smoked pork belly and collards, short rib grilled cheese, and shrimp and grits with fried polenta cakes. Owner/chef Erick Crawford prides himself with local sourcing as well as drawing inspiration from his grandmother, who used to wake up everyday at 5 a.m. to make the morning biscuits.

Finalists:
Katsu Kart Sando Shop
Union Barbecue

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Non-restaurant Chef of the Year

WINNER: ALYSSA WILEN
Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen
Wilen has about as solid a resume as you can find: Working in the kitchens of noted Charlotte chefs Marc Jacksina and Paul Verica, a former executive chef at Fern, and two trips to New York City to cook at the James Beard House. She could easily run one of Charlotte’s top restaurants — if that’s what she wanted. However, she found her real passion is to teach others how to cook — something she’s done for a decade now. In that time, she’s helped create a population of diners that appreciate both the art of cooking and its sourcing. 

Finalists:
Carlos Abrahams, Crav’n Caribbean
Reyaña Radcliff, Your Braisen Chef

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Nonprofit of the Year

WINNER: COMMUNITY MATTERS CAFE
This nonprofit restaurant, a part of Charlotte Rescue Mission, employs graduates of its substance abuse programs. Team members learn life and restaurant skills, giving them a chance to find a career in hospitality and a path to self-sufficiency. Yet the restaurant’s strong leadership ensures that a dining experience there doesn’t feel like you’re simply doing good; rather, it’s on par with some of the best restaurants in the city.

Finalists:
Ben’s Friends
The Bulb

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Sommelier of the Year

Presented by 3 Keys Wine Distributing

WINNER: MICHAEL MYERS
Counter-
Whether you order the most affordable pairing or opt for the “absurd” (a title designated by the restaurant itself) pairing with your tasting menu at Counter-, the choices will be equally thoughtful. Myers’ ability to match such an incredible range of wines with the restaurant’s ever-changing dishes makes the pairings at Counter- as exciting as the menus themselves. 

Finalists:
Hilary Demmitt, Chapter 6
Sharon Balas, Foxcroft Wine Co. SouthPark

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Mixologist of the Year

Presented by Campari

WINNER: JUSTIN HAZELTON
Lorem Ipsum
With Lorem Ipsum, Hazelton began his venture as a bar owner — and it has been an impressive start. The cocktail bar’s intimate vibe and excellent cocktails have drawn a loyal following, all while making Charlotte’s craft cocktail scene more inclusive. With new ventures on the horizon, we expect Hazelton to make an even bigger name in the bar scene.

Finalists:
Kyle Brown, Customshop
Rhea Buck, Supperland

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General Manager of the Year

Presented by OpenTable

WINNER: ELLIS LINDSAY
Chapter 6
There’s a reason Rare Roots Hospitality restaurants have become a destination for date nights, birthdays, graduations, and business meetings alike: they hold a high standard for hospitality, and Chapter 6 is no exception, thanks to Lindsay. Following seven years as general manager at modern steakhouse The Porter’s House in Waverly, Lindsay continues to bring her style of casual yet admirable leadership to this South End restaurant. The scale of the restaurant requires excruciating attention to detail, which Lindsay accomplishes while maintaining a smile and welcoming attitude to its patrons.

Finalists:
Nori Schmidt, Dot Dot Dot
Jill Vande Woude, Restaurant Constance

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Chef to Watch

Presented by 86Search

WINNER: KENNY DO
Counter-
Chef Do has proved his versatility as a chef, comfortably cooking complex, high-touch dishes at tasting menu concepts like Bardo and Counter- as well as international staples like pastas and street food. He’ll be doing the latter at the upcoming Uptown food stall Maneki, but we expect to find even his simpler dishes to have the hidden depth we’ve come to know him for. 

Finalists:
Tchnavia “Tché” Carter, Community Matters Cafe
Cristian Medrano, Supperland

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UPlifting Industry Member of the Year

Presented by NiceDay

WINNER: MATT MARTIN
Freshlist
In an industry that can be competitive and exhausting, Martin is a tireless cheerleader. Through his position at Freshlist, he has contact with chefs around the city — and that contact brings much-needed positivity along with it. Whenever you’re in need of a pat on the back or pep talk, Martin is there — most times, without even being asked.

Finalists:
Chris Coleman, Built On Hospitality
Sam Diminich, Your Farms Your Table

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Pastry Chef of the Year

WINNER: ANN MARIE STEFANEY
Restaurant Constance
A 2023 UPPY Finalist, Stefaney has made a habit of leading the pastry program at Charlotte’s most esteemed restaurants. Stefaney’s name first became a known one in the food scene during her time at Heirloom. A few years back, she joined chef/owner Sam Diminich at Restaurant Constance, where she has continued to fashion desserts which are creative in approach, yet still comforting, and stay true to the menu’s seasonality. 

Finalists:
Savannah Foltz, Supperland
Faith Morley, Counter-

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Chef of the Year

Presented by Motown Spice Provisions

WINNER: ERIC FERGUSON
L’Ostrica
The executive chef and co-owner of L’Ostrica remains an under-discovered talent in the city — and has been so since he moved here from the West Coast. Ferguson shows he’s one of Charlotte’s best chefs in the city with each dish on L’Ostrica’s menu, whether it’s the tasting menu or lunchtime sandwich offering. Dishes that appear simple to the eye are abundant with layered flavors and textures, taking seasonal produce and creating masterpieces worthy of the farmers who grew it. 

Finalists:
Andres Kaifer, Customshop
Kaley Laird, Mimosa Grill

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