2023 Outlook: Trends and Challenges Restaurants Will See
Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine asked experts for their thoughts on trends and challenges that will affect the restaurant industry in 2023. Counter’s director of wine, Bill Cox, was one of the experts.
Cabernet Franc continues to get hotter and hotter – both domestically and abroad. Because Cabernet Sauvignon is overplanted, winemakers have been replacing with Cab Franc, so that there’s more inventory. Consumers are realizing it’s a delicious wine with a good price point.
Etna in the mountains of Sicily is a region putting out beautiful wine, and people are starting to talk about it. East Coast Americans are growing more adventurous but still like a certain degree of brightness, and wines from Etna deliver that mouthfeel with complex fruit character and other components you don’t find in West Coast wines. Etna wines, like etna rosse, are also a great value compared to Italians DOCGs. Where a Brunello or Barola may retail for $50, an Etna is closer to $15.
– Bill Cox, Director of Wine at Counter-
Counter- in Charlotte Debuts its Latest Menu in New Digs
The full-sensory, evocative dining experience at Counter- opens the doors to its new West Charlotte home on Wednesday, December 21, 2022. Serving 14 to 16 guests per evening, the restaurant is rolling out the next iteration of its 10- and 14-course tasting menus that have been in development for the past five years. The menu themes at Counter- change each quarter, and every course is paired with a story and a song on the evening’s playlist. This one, Modern Art, features 10 to 14 dishes inspired by modern artists, including Andy Warhol, Frida Kahlo, Roy Lichtenstein, and Georgia O’Keefe.
“[Counter-] menus take about four to five years to fully develop because of the research we put into the story,” says chef and restaurant owner Sam Hart. Also, every component of a course is made in-house, so that means time is needed to design dishes, create recipes, and start any lengthy fermentation or preservation processes.
Music Makes the Meal at Counter- in Charlotte, N.C.
The Award of Excellence winner melds culture and food to create an evening that’s an experience, not just a meal.
Would you pair Ludwig Van Beethoven with mustard-laced rouladen? Radiohead with sashimi? At the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence winner Counter (stylized Counter-, to indicate the word’s meaning as a prefix) in Charlotte, N.C, the music selection isn’t an afterthought, but a crucial part of the tasting menu’s sensory experience.
Charlotte’s Counter- Pairs Food With Music This Wednesday in a New Location
Progressive Charlotte restaurant Counter (The restaurant styles its name as Counter-) opened in 2020 and gained great momentum in the culinary scene when it shut down in July 2022 to expand. The restaurant is ready to reopen at 2001 West Morehead Street anytime this month. Chef Sam Hart and his team are going from 1300 square feet at the original Thrift Road location to 5300 square feet with the new Morehead Street address of Counter and attached wine bar Bibilo.
Chef Sam Hart offers first look at reverse wine-pairing restaurant Biblio in west Charlotte
Chef Sam Hart is putting the spotlight on wine with Biblio. That reverse wine-pairing restaurant opens in mid-December at 2001 W. Morehead St. in west Charlotte.
Chefs on the Move: Southern News
Chef Sam was mentioned in Matt Kirouac’s round-up of chefs on the move on plateonline.com. It’s got a big-’ole headshot of Chef Sam and everything!
In Charlotte, Sam Hart reopened fine-dining spot Counter-, along with an attached wine-focused venture called Biblio.
Chef Sam Hart set to begin next chapter with $1.6M relaunch of restaurant Counter-
Read the full article at Charlotte Business Journal.
Read a free excerpt on the WSOC-TV website.
Is employee wellbeing the secret to restaurant success?
Read how counter-, the Loyalist Market, and Tupelo Honey are changing the way restaurants operate on Unpretentious Palate.