The Chef Assembly 

On November 2 and 3, The Chef Assembly will host its first-ever event in the South, bringing together some of the country’s most influential and beloved chefs and restaurateurs, and renowned journalists for two days of thought-provoking conversations, collaborative dining experiences and opportunities for meaningful connection surrounding the hospitality industry. This milestone comes as Charlotte’s culinary scene continues to gain national momentum, with new MICHELIN Guide recognition, growing James Beard nominations and increased visibility as the primary host city for Top Chef: Carolinas. The two-day hospitality event will be hosted at Johnson & Wales Charlotte, with the support of Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, and Resy, an American Express company. Tickets went on sale Thursday, September 17.

Founded by Mike Traud, The Chef Assembly was created with the intention to elicit honest dialogue while strengthening relationships across the hospitality industry, in an effort to go beyond the confinements of traditional conferences. For its inaugural southern gathering, The Chef Assembly will bring its signature conversation-driven, community-room format to Charlotte, NC creating a platform for voices from across the region and beyond to explore ideas and cultural forces shaping the future of food and hospitality. 

“Hosting the Chef Assembly positions Charlotte as a national leader in culinary excellence, bringing together top chefs, food writers and industry influencers for a premier gathering of talent and ideas,” said CRVA Chief Brand & Strategy Officer Laura White. “The conference generates strong media opportunities, elevates local chefs alongside national voices and reinforces the city’s growing reputation as a dynamic food destination.”

“The Chef Assembly was created to bring together people who are genuinely invested in moving our industry forward,” said Mike Traud, Founder and Executive Director of The Chef Assembly, “the conversations that happen here are candid, collaborative, and rooted in the belief that hospitality is strongest when we listen and learn from one another.”

The panel discussions, thoughtfully curated by Traud, will include keynotes such as, “Next Generation Notes,” explaining how mentorship is evolving in hospitality, including leadership, career development, and sharing knowledge between generations; and “Modern Restaurant Criticism,” exploring the evolving relationship between restaurants, critics and media; and “Here to Help: Chef Wellness Resources,” bringing together leaders to discuss resources and support systems for hospitality professionals. These conversations will be led by some of the country’s leading food journalists and industry voices, including Jeff Gordinier (Esquire), Tom Sietsema (The Washington Post), Hanna Raskin (TheFood Section), Joshua David Stein (Esquire), Mackensy Lunsford (The Tennessean), Erin Murray (The Local Palate), and more. 

This inaugural lineup in Charlotte will shed light from acclaimed chefs and restaurateurs from across the country, including: Ashley Christensen of Raleigh’s AC Restaurants, Meherwan and Molly Iraniof Chai Pani Restaurant Group, E.J. Lagasse of Emeril’s in New Orleans, Serigne Mbaye of Dakar NOLA, Chris Shepherd of Southern Smoke Foundation, Susan Bae of Washington, D.C.’s Moon Rabbit, James London of Chubby Fish in Charleston, Silver Iocovozzi of Asheville’s Neng Jr.’s, Isabel Coss of Pascual in Washington, D.C., Chad Williams of Friday Saturday Sunday in Philadelphia, PA, Erick Williams of Chicago’s Virtue, and Julia Sullivan of Nashville’s Henrietta Red, among others. The full list of participants can be found here.

“The Chef Assembly brings chefs from across the country together to share ideas, challenge each other and discuss how to move our industry forward. Because Johnson & Wales was such an important part of my journey, participating at the Charlotte campus is especially meaningful.” E.J. Lagasse shared, “I’m proud to be a part of a community that educates and inspires the next generation of chefs and hospitality professionals.”

President Richard Mathieu, Ph.D. of Johnson & Wales University Charlotte Campus shared, “We are honored to host The Chef Assembly and provide a space where hospitality professionals can connect, build relationships and exchange ideas that shape the future of the industry. Bringing these voices together also inspires our students and reflects JWU’s mission to prepare the next generation of hospitality leaders through meaningful, real-world connections.”

Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon, Chef/Co-Owner of Kalaya adds, “The Chef Assembly is an event I really look forward to – it’s such a meaningful gathering of our industry, from daytime panel discussions to evening one-time-only dinner collabs. I love how it has grown from my hometown of Philadelphia to now connecting other exciting food cities like NYC, San Francisco, and now Charlotte!” 

In addition to the daytime programming, Resy will host a series of exclusive special events and collaborative dinners pairing celebrated chefs from around Charlotte with others from around the country such as Nok Suntaranon of Kalaya with Eric Ferguson at L’Ostrica, Karl Gorline of Avize with Brittany Cochran of Stagioni,  Vinnie Cimino of Cordelia with Chris Rogienski of Leluia Hall and Silver Iocovozzi of Neng Jr.’s with Callan Buckles of Rada. Reservations and information will be available in the coming weeks via Resy.

“At Resy, we believe good things happen when the restaurant community comes together,” said Pablo Rivero, CEO of Resy and Head of American Express Global Dining. “The Chef Assembly creates space for people from across the industry to support each other in navigating the biggest challenges facing restaurants today, and we’re proud to help bring that spirit to Charlotte for the first time.”

Tickets, priced at $175 per person, include two morning panels and three afternoon panels on Monday, November 2 and three panels on Tuesday, November 3.

The Chef Assembly is made possible by its sponsors: Resy/American Express, Square, San Pellegrino, Hosti, Rosito Bisani and Counter Culture Coffee.

For tickets and information on the full lineup, visit thechefassembly.com. Follow along @thechefassembly on Instagram.