FSR November 2022

HOT MARKE T S

Charlotte C harlotte, North Car olina’s nickname of

year-round mild cli mate, the city is also sur rounded by agriculture, making it a prime spot for restaurants that pri oritize local sourcing. Take chef Greg Collier’s “modern day juke-joint,” Leah & Louise. The con

the “Queen City” is a fitting one. The city is emerging as one of the crown metropolitan jew els of the Southeast ern U.S., nabbing the 30th spot on U.S. News & World Report ’s 2022 Best Places to Live list. And the city’s high liv ability coincides with a thriving real estate mar ket; in a new study by Quicken Loans, Char lotte boasted the 18th hottest real estate mar ket nationwide. Thanks to its nearly

POPULATION: 2,595,027 GROWTH IN HOSPITALITY JOBS: 12.2%

cept’s updated versions of Southern classics— dishes inspired by Mis sissippi River foodways and focused on local ingredients—earned Collier a James Beard Award nomination ear lier this year. Leah & Louise is

one of the major play ers in an expansive net work of concepts that draw from Southern tra dition in Charlotte, but diverse eating and drink ing options abound. This year alone has seen a range of openings, including Para Char lotte, a hip, Asian-influ enced small plates spot, and Yunta, a sleek con cept specializing in Nik kei cuisine (Peruvian ingredients prepared via Japanese methods). Both have been high lighted by Eater as some of the city’s most sought after restaurants. With launches this year in nearly all of Charlotte’s neighborhoods across a variety of categories, the Queen City scene is ripe for new ideas.

CONFIT DUCK LEG AT LEAH & LOUISE

PETER TAYLOR PHOTOGRAPHY / ADOBE STOCK (2)

NOVEMBER 2022

32

FSRMAGAZINE .COM