Last Updated on March 26, 2026
The culinary scene in Western North Carolina is arguably one of the best in the world! Our abundant local produce makes the region a farm-to-table dream destination. But a bushel of veggies would be nothing without the creative direction of our area’s amazing chefs.
Local chefs are serving up some of the best cuisine in the world—and you don’t have to take our word for it. They’re being recognized by some of the top culinary critics around, including the James Beard Foundation.
Keep reading to learn more about how Howard Hanna Beverly-Hanks can help you #LiveWNC, and see a list of restaurants with top chefs serving up dishes near you.
Skip ahead! Find restaurants in WNC with top chefs near you:
- 7 top chefs near Asheville
- 2 top chefs near Brevard
- 3 top chefs near Hendersonville
- 3 top chefs near Waynesville
- Live where you love!
7 top chefs near Asheville
Katie Button – Cúrate
Chefs Katie Button and Félix Meana founded Cúrate in 2011 to share the culinary traditions of Spain with downtown Asheville. Since then, Button has been named a Food & Wine Best New Chef (2015) and has been nominated for an impressive five James Beard awards. She currently hosts Magnolia Network’s “From the Source”, has authored two successful cookbooks, and was most recently selected as one of 16 elite chefs to compete on CBS’s high-stakes culinary competition series “America’s Culinary Cup”. The whole city is tuned in to watch her progress!
13 Biltmore Avenue, Asheville | (828) 239-2946 | curatetapasbar.com
William Dissen – The Market Place
Executive Chef and Owner of The Market Place William Dissen graduated with honors from The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. In Charleston, he honed his skills at his fine dining restaurant, Cypress. Founded in 1979, Chef William joined The Market Place in more recent years, elevating its menu and status around the city and beyond. The Market Place Restaurant received a James Beard nomination for Outstanding Restaurant in America in 2024, and Chef William received his own James Beard nomination for Outstanding Chef in America in 2025.
20 Wall Street, Asheville | (828) 252-4162 | marketplace-restaurant.com
Silver Iocovozzi – Neng Jr.’s
Neng Jr.’s describes itself as a “casual place serving creative Filipino fare”, but one look at their reservation calendar belies that humble description. Founded in 2022 by Chef/Owner Silver Iocovozzi and his husband Cherry Iocovozzi, Neng Jr’s has been named a Best New Restaurant by Bon Appetit, Esquire, The New York Times, and Eater Carolina. Neng Jr.’s was a 2023 James Beard finalist for Best New Restaurant. Chef Silver was named Esquire’s Rising Star Chef of 2022, a Food and Wine Best New Chef in 2024, and a 2025 finalist for Best Chef Southeast by the James Beard Foundation.
701 Haywood Road, Suite 102, Asheville | (828) 552-3880 | nengjrs.com
Meherwan Irani – Chai Pani, Botiwalla, Spicewalla
Meaning “tea and water”, Chai Pani is Indian slang for “going out for a tasty little bite”. Chef Meherwan Irani and co-founder Molly Irani brought their concept for Indian street food to Asheville in 2009 and sparked a food revolution across America. Chef Meherwan considers himself to be a storyteller as much as a restaurateur, sharing the soul of Indian culture through food and expanding how Indian street food is tasted in America. In 2022, Chai Pani was named Outstanding Restaurant by the James Beard Foundation.
32 Banks Avenue, Asheville | (828) 254-4003 | chaipani.com
22 Battery Park Avenue, Asheville | (828) 424-7251 | botiwalla.com
697 Haywood Road, Asheville | (828) 505-0163 | botiwalla.com
1 Page Avenue, Suite 147, Asheville | spicewallabrand.com
Michael Reppert – Blackbird
After graduation from Le Cordon Bleu, Chef Michael Reppert worked in some of the most innovative restaurants in Boston. The birth of his daughter inspired him to move back to the South. Downtown Asheville only benefitted from that pivotal decision. Chef Michael quickly moved up the ranks at Blackbird, becoming executive chef. In 2019, he took the reins of the business, in addition to the kitchen, becoming the restaurant’s owner. His hands-on approach and strong relationships with local farmers and food producers result in meals that are quality from the roots up.
47 Biltmore Avenue, Asheville | (828) 254-2502 | theblackbirdrestaurant.com
Joe Scully – Chestnut, Corner Kitchen
In 2004, co-owners Joe Scully and Kevin Westmoreland opened Corner Kitchen in Historic Biltmore Village. With its success, they opened Chestnut in downtown Asheville in 2012. Chef Joe brings nearly half a century of restaurant experience to his kitchens. He graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY in 1987, after which he took a fellowship at The Culinary Institute’s Escoffier Room Restaurant. Chef Joe also served as Executive Chef at Indigo Coastal Grill, The Druid Hills Golf Club in Atlanta, and the United Nations in New York City before his successes in Asheville.
48 Biltmore Avenue, Asheville | (828) 575-2667 | chestnutasheville.com
Ashleigh Shanti – Good Hot Fish
One of the hottest new names in Asheville’s food scene is Chef Ashleigh Shanti. In 2019, The New York Times named Shanti among the “16 Black Chefs Changing Food in America”, Eater named her one of their “Young Guns” of the year, and Benne on Eagle was named one of Bon Appetit‘s Best New Restaurants. Chef Ashleigh was a semi-finalist for the 2020 James Beard Award for “Rising Star Chef of the Year.” Shanti also competed in “Top Chef: Houston” in 2022. Her latest venture, Good Hot Fish, is a counter service fish fry concept inspired by historical Southern fish camps.
10 Buxton Avenue, Asheville | goodhotfish.com
Who’s hungry—for a great WNC home? Search homes for sale in Asheville.
2 top chefs near Brevard
James Hargis – The Blind Mule
Chef James Hargis worked his way through culinary school by completing an apprenticeship abroad at a 1- and 2-Michelin Star restaurant during the 1980s. He worked for Chef Jean Banchet at Le Francais in Chicago, as well as at several upscale resorts and restaurants in San Diego, before serving as Executive Chef and Sous Chef at several Relais & Chateaux hotels. At the Blind Mule, Chef James and his wife Carole have made farm-to-table dining a way of life. Their small-plate service includes flavors from the chef’s travels around the world.
14 Gaston Street, Brevard | (828) 553-8978 | blindmulerestaurant.com
Tony Pope – Wild Morel
Originally from West Virginia, Chef Tony Pope graduated from Johnson and Wales Culinary Institute, one of the world’s top-ranked culinary and hospitality colleges. During his early career, Chef Tony worked with world-renowned chefs and at award-winning restaurants. He then spent many years as Executive Chef at several private golf clubs. He also served as Culinary Director of the Dormie Network designing and creating destination experiences. Now settled in Brevard, Chef Tony brings cultured flavors with French and Italian leanings and a world-class, farm-to-table dining experience to Wild Morel.
204 W Main Street, Brevard | (828) 883-4841 | wildmorelrestaurant.com
Who’s hungry—for a great WNC home? Search homes for sale in Brevard.
3 top chefs near Hendersonville
Michael Gilligan – The Henderson
Award-winning Executive Chef Michael Gilligan brings more than 25 years’ experience with the Ritz Carlton, W Hotels, Michelin-star restaurants, and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines to historic downtown Hendersonville. Located in a designated National Historic Building, The Henderson is the town’s only accommodation with a gourmet restaurant and lounge. On-site dining at Harvey’s al fresco restaurant features Chef Michael’s signature combination of locally sourced, fresh ingredients and innovative takes on classic dishes and cocktails.
201 3rd Avenue W, Hendersonville | (828) 696-2001 | thehendersonnc.com
Jeffrey McInnis and Janine Booth – Root & Bone
Hailing from opposite sides of the planet, Chefs Jeffrey McInnis and Janine Booth have melded their passions for locally sourced, farm-fresh ingredients to present honest Southern food at its finest. Chef Jeff is a native of the American South, while Chef Janine hails from Australia. The pair were already successful at founding several restaurants across the country and the Caribbean before coming to WNC, earning numerous accolades and three James Beard nominations along the way. Root & Bone showcases Southern-inspired cuisine with a modern twist.
4165 Brevard Road, Horse Shoe | (828) 309-0818 | rootnbonehvl.com
Jesse Roque – Blue Ruby Bakery
Chef Jesse Roque grew up learning to cook in Tampa, Florida, before pursuing culinary school. Her many internships at famed hotels and restaurants include an apprenticeship with “Rock n’ Roll Chef” Kerry Simon at Mercury in South Beach, Florida. She then earned the role of executive pastry chef at the AAA Four Diamond Charleston Grille of Charleston Place Hotel. In 2008, Chef Jesse started the much beloved Never Blue cafe in Hendersonville. In 2023, she relocated and rebranded, beginning her next chapter at Blue Ruby Bakery. Blue Ruby is a bistro/bakery by day and a romantic tapas and cocktail lounge by night.
2702 Greenville Highway D, Flat Rock | (828) 666-0686 | theblueruby.com
Who’s hungry—for a great WNC home? Search homes for sale in Hendersonville.
3 top chefs near Waynesville
Santiago Guzzetti – Ilda
Born in Argentina, Chef Santiago spent his early career traveling and working in some of the top restaurants in Spain and New York City. Named after his grandmother, Ilda is his current passion project, bringing artisan tastes to the tables of Sylva. Chef Santiago’s relationships with local farmers, foragers, and artisanal producers across WNC help inform the restaurant’s ever-evolving seasonal menu. A master in the kitchen, Chef Santiago prefers to cook over an open flame. We can’t wait to see how that manifests in future projects and menus.
462 W Main Street, Sylva | (828) 307-2036 | ildainsylva.com
Josh Monroe – The Chef’s Table
When Executive Chef/Owner/Farmer Josh Monroe is not there, The Chef’s Table is not open. Chef Josh is a WNC native who got his start at his father’s restaurant before attending AB-Tech Culinary Institute and leading the American Culinary Foundation’s culinary Olympic team to a gold medal. Chef Josh is a proponent of the Slow Food Movement, growing many of the vegetables used in the restaurant himself, as well as supporting area farmers. From his open kitchen, you’ll see Chef Josh behind the stove cooking all your entrees by himself.
30 Church Street, Waynesville | (828) 452-6210 | thechefstableofwaynesville.com
Josh Weeks – Singletree Heritage Kitchen
NC native Josh Weeks brings his heritage from the eastern end of the state to the mountains. After learning the value of community cooking from his grandparents and working in a family-run restaurant, Weeks attended Appalachian State University. He brings more than a quarter century of experience to his latest venture after serving 12 years as the executive chef and general manager of Asheville’s Corner Kitchen. At Singletree, Weeks blends his appreciation of local and sustainable food offerings with Green restaurant certification and living wages for his staff.
136 Depot Street #101, Waynesville | (828) 246-9760 | singletreekitchen.com
Who’s hungry—for a great WNC home? Search homes for sale in Waynesville.
Live where you love in Western North Carolina!
At Howard Hanna Beverly-Hanks, we know it’s our local small businesses and nonprofits that help us live an active and modern mountain lifestyle. We encourage you to join us as we #LiveWNC.
This year, we have committed to sharing some of our favorite WNC locations, causes, and characters through a series of blog posts, including today’s post on top chefs in the region. Return here throughout the year to learn more about local nonprofits, businesses, and business leaders that enhance our home and make it easy to live where you love, including:
- Performance Venues
- Karma Keg Nonprofits
- Golf
- Art Galleries
- Regional Trails
- Shopping Main Street
Howard Hanna Beverly-Hanks has local roots and a national network, offering clients a full-service real estate experience. Reach out for info to help you meet your real estate goals.
