StrEATs Neighborhood Cook-Off

Which Charlotte chef will win the title of the 2026 StrEATs Neighborhood Cook-off Champion?

Now in its fifth year, StrEATs will once again spotlight eight local chefs and their neighborhoods as they go head-to-head in a culinary showdown.

Each competitor is tasked to create a dish that captures the flavor and spirit of their neighborhood. After virtual preliminary rounds, four finalists will advance to the live competition. Virtual round winners will be chosen by YOU!

Those four finalists will cook their signature dishes live at the Charlotte StrEATs Festival on Sunday, April 12th, where a panel of judges will select the ultimate winner.

The winning chef will take home $1,000, a trophy, and bragging rights as the 2026 StrEATs Neighborhood Champion.

Uptown

Chef Ammalu Saleh
Serengeti Kitchen

The Dish
Sweet Plantain Crabcake with Sambaro

How does this represent your neighborhood?
This dish represents Uptown Charlotte through the harmony of diverse ingredients and cultures. The crab reflects the elevated, upscale dining experiences found in Uptown’s culinary scene. The sweet plantain represents the multicultural communities that shape the soul of the city. The sambaro sauce is my personal signature, rooted in Tanzanian flavors and crafted to represent Serengeti Kitchen’s mission of connecting cultures through food.

Dish details: Crab meat is gently mixed with mashed plantain and toasted corn flour, then topped with fresh mango salsa and Sambaro sauce, a mango-habanero blend. It brings together sweet, savory, and a touch of heat, with the crab staying front and center.

East Charlotte

Chef Kimmy Bazan
El Veneno

The Dish
Huarache

How does this represent your neighborhood?
The east side has always been known for its diversity in ethnic populations. Our culture and community have continuously shined through and have held us together even in the hardest of times. Despite at one point being considered an unappealing neighborhood of low income, this side of Charlotte has progressed and thrived in its diversity. Similarly, a huarache was originally created with humble ingredients for the working class. It used to be viewed as a food for the “poor.” But over time, it’s become an undeniable staple of the food scene in Mexico City. Its comfort and adaptability, much like the east side, has made it stand the test of time.

Dish details: Huarache means sandal in Spanish. The dish gets its name by the shape the masa forms when pressed. It’s filled with beans and topped with two different salsas, onion, cilantro, cactus, and cecina.

UPTOWN
Ammalu Saleh
Serengeti Kitchen

EAST CHARLOTTE
Kimmy Bazan
El Veneno

ELIZABETH
Mike Long
Rosemont

LOSO
James Brokaw
The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery

WEST CHARLOTTE
Oscar Johnson
Jimmy Pearls Chesapeake

SOUTH END
Juan Romero
Catalú

PLAZA MIDWOOD
Michael Le
Hello Uncle

SOUTH PARK
Maria Gonzalez
Mizu

2025:
Chef Garcia Brown
SOUTH END

Read about our 2025 Neighborhood Cook-off Champion Chef Garcia Brown of SouthBound here.

2024:
Chef Awo Amenumey
CONCORD

Read about our 2024 Neighborhood Cook-off Champion Chef Awo Amenumey of Eh’vivi here.

2023:
Chef Clayton Sanders
LOSO

Read about our 2023 Neighborhood Cook-off Champion Chef Clayton Sanders with Alyssa’s Kitchen here.