One such chef is Ashley Christensen, the owner of several in Raleigh, North Carolina. With a James Beard Award under her belt, Christensen is known for her elevated southern dishes that feature locally-sourced ingredients. Her restaurant Poole’s Diner is a must-visit for anyone looking for classic southern fare with a contemporary twist.
Similarly, Austin-based chef Tavel Bristol-Joseph has been pushing the boundaries of southern food with his pastry creations. As the executive pastry chef at Emmer & Rye, Bristol-Joseph uses southern ingredients like sorghum and buttermilk to create desserts that are both nostalgic and innovative. His dessert creations have been recognized by Food & Wine and Bon Appetit, among others.
In Atlanta, chef Jarrett Stieber is making a name for himself with his pop-up restaurant Eat Me Speak Me. Known for his inventive takes on southern classics, Stieber has gained a loyal following in the city. His dishes, like smoked trout dip and pimento cheese with chicken skin, showcase his creativity and love for southern ingredients.
One of the most exciting aspects of the rising southern chef movement is the diversity of the chefs themselves. In Birmingham, Alabama, chef Abhi Sainju is the owner of three restaurants that specialize in fusion cuisine. His restaurant, Abhi Eatery and Bar, fuses southern and Indian flavors to create dishes like vindaloo fried chicken and tandoori salmon salad. By mixing traditional southern ingredients with those from his Nepalese heritage, Sainju is creating a new type of fusion cuisine that is uniquely his own.
Finally, in Charleston, South Carolina, chef BJ Dennis is preserving the traditions of Gullah Geechee cuisine. A descendant of the Gullah Geechee people, who were enslaved on the coast of South Carolina and Georgia, Dennis uses the ingredients and cooking techniques of his ancestors to create dishes like okra soup and deviled crab. His mission is not just to serve delicious food, but also to educate people about the often-overlooked contributions of the Gullah Geechee people to southern cuisine.
The rise of young southern chefs is not just a trend, but a movement. These chefs are redefining what southern cuisine can be, and in doing so they are expanding the horizons of the culinary world as a whole. By honoring tradition while also pushing the boundaries of what is possible, these chefs are creating exciting and innovative dishes that are sure to leave a lasting impact on the industry.