6 celebrity chefs and culinary destinations redefining NC

North Carolina's dining scene witnesses a culinary renaissance with innovative restaurant concepts reshaping the food landscape.

Accomplished chefs like Scott Crawford are expanding their reach to unconventional spaces, such as airports, with ventures like Crawford’s Genuine, emphasizing regional ingredients and timely service. High-profile chefs from award-winning establishments bring national attention, as seen with Ashleigh Shanti's Good Hot Fish in Asheville, which has earned a spot on The New York Times' list of best restaurants.

The state also welcomes gastronomic diversity with renowned figures like Tyson Cole introducing Japanese cuisine at Uchi in Charlotte, suggesting a blend of global flair and local culture in North Carolina's gastronomic evolution.

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

Jamisen Booker of Charlotte, NC will be featured on “Chopped” as he competes in an episode of “Trash into Treasure.”

NO. 1: NC CHEF TO BE FEATURED IN UPCOMING EPISODE OF FOOD NETWORK’S ‘CHOPPED’

A familiar face will be featured on Food Network. Look out for this Charlotte chef competing on “Chopped.” | Published April 5, 2024 | Read Full Story by Chyna Blackmon

Raleigh chef Scott Crawford is opening a new restaurant, Crawford’s Genuine, in Terminal 2 at Raleigh Durham International Airport. Construction is underway in the space that previously housed 42nd Street Oyster Bar, on Monday May 6, 2024 in Morrisville, N.C.

NO. 2: AN ACCOMPLISHED TRIANGLE CHEF EXPANDS HIS RANGE AT RDU AIRPORT

Scott Crawford’s newest restaurant is set to open in Terminal 2 at Raleigh-Durham International Airport in June. | Published May 22, 2024 | Read Full Story by Richard Stradling

Uchi, a sushi-focused concept founded by James Beard award-winning chef and sushi master Tyson Cole, will open in Charlotte.

NO. 3: JAMES BEARD AWARD-WINNING CHEF AND SUSHI MASTER TO BRING JAPANESE RESTAURANT TO CHARLOTTE

The restaurant, which offers a non-traditional approach to Japanese cuisine, has locations all over the U.S. | Published June 26, 2024 | Read Full Story by Chyna Blackmon

NO. 4: THIS NC RESTAURANT IS HOME TO ONE OF THE NATION’S BEST NEW CHEFS, RANKINGS SHOW

The restaurant isn’t a stranger to receiving acclaim. | Published September 10, 2024 | Read Full Story by Simone Jasper

Greg and Subrina Collier’s BayHaven Restaurant Group is hosting a collaborative dinner with Asheville chef Ashleigh Shanti — now a contestant on Bravo’s “Top Chef” — at Leah & Louise on Monday, April 18 at 7 p.m.

NO. 5: A NEW NC RESTAURANT WAS NAMED ONE OF THE BEST IN AMERICA BY THE NEW YORK TIMES

NYT is putting a spotlight on the fried fish from a North Carolina restaurant. | Published September 25, 2024 | Read Full Story by Drew Jackson

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.