Counter- named Semifinalist in the 2023 James Beard Awards: Best Chef in the Southeast
Today the 2023 Restaurant and Chef Awards semifinalists for the James Beard Awards® were announced. Nominees will be announced on Wednesday, March 29, and winners will be celebrated at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony on Monday, June 5, 2023, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
The James Beard Foundation’s Restaurant and Chef Awards—established in 1990 and first awarded in 1991—are one of five separate recognition programs of the Awards. The 2023 Restaurant and Chef Semifinalists are recognized across 23 categories, including the new Award for Outstanding Bakery.
Sam Hart is semifinalist for Best Chef in the Southeast!
Last Chance for Modern Menu
It's hard to believe we are in the final three weeks of our first theme at Counter- 2.0. This has rapidly become my favorite menu. The flavors, textures, and story, I will cherish forever.
If you haven't had the chance to join us, you still have a couple of spots left open for February. We hope to see you before we transition to our Street Food menu in March. Reservations for Street Food go on sale next Friday to the public, but you will get an early jump next Wednesday at 10:30 am.
Thank you all and we hope you are off to a great new year!
Best
Chef
Valentine's Day Menu at counter- and Biblio
And just like that... its time for Valentine's Day planning. Be ahead of the curve and reserve your experience now!
At both Biblio and Counter- we will be focusing on Italy for this years experiences. Counter- will be serving a ten course Sicilian fare with a focus on Italian wine, especially the unique wine of Sicily.
Biblio will continue its already one-of-a-kind service style, but with special focuses on our Tuscan collection.
If you are interested in reserving for either, click one of the two links below!
We hope to see you there, and help celebrate your love!
Best
Chef Sam
Your ultimate guide to 140+ restaurants that opened in Charlotte in 2022 (or will open soon)
Counter- was mentioned in Charlotte’s Five guide to restaurants in Charlotte.
Counter- owner and chef Sam Hart hired chef Alex Wnorowski, who has worked at Three-Star Michelin restaurant Noma in Copenhagen, to lead the kitchen at Counter-’s new location.
Sommeliers Dig Into Their Top Bottles Of 2022
Forbes talked to sommeliers about their favorite bottles of wine, and counter’s wine director, Bill Cox, had this to say:
Bill Cox, the wine director of Counter- in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been making a case for wines from Etna in the mountains of Sicily all year long. “This region is putting out beautiful wine and people are starting to talk about it. It’s delicious and great for the American palate. 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. Whereas a Brunello or Barola may retail for $50, an Etna is closer to $15.”
3 Stellar Champagnes to Celebrate 2023
Counter’s wine director, Bill Cox, gave Maxim his recommendation for what champagne to pop on New Year’s.
Krug Grande Cuvée 169ème Édition
Speaking of Krug, this legendary bubbly brand is a can’t-miss choice for the priciest champagne on the list. “Undoubtedly the king of non-vintage Champagne, Krug is not a wine that everyone can afford to drink, but given the opportunity should absolutely try,” says Bill Cox, sommelier at Counter, one of the best new restaurants in Charlotte, North Carolina. “A fine mousse combined with complex malic fruit, nutty brioche, all wrapped up in chalky salinity, this will change how you think about Champagne.” $229
The pros weigh in on the biggest drink trends to watch for in 2023
That’s us! We’re the pros weighing in on the biggest drink trends to watch for in 2023! counter-’s own wine director, Bill Cox, had this to say about Cabernet Franc:
For Bill Cox, the wine director at Charlotte’s Counter, it’s all about a Bordeaux variety. “Cabernet Franc continues to get hotter and hotter, both domestically and abroad,” he says. “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.” Cox also believes Etna wines from Sicily will continue to rise in popularity. We tend to agree and love these volcanic offerings that are full of character.
The Charlotte restaurant where the food tells a story is now open in a new space
Fine dining aficionados and experimental foodies in Charlotte have been waiting for this news: Counter- and its sister restaurant, Biblio, are now open.
Season passes are already sold out, but you can make a reservation online.
“After the longest five months of delays in my life, and last minute ADA and electrical issues, Biblio and Counter- finally open,” Executive chef and owner Sam Hart posted on Facebook on Tuesday, Dec. 20.