Chefs and mixologists from across North Carolina gathered at the Angus Barn on August 14 for the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association’s 2023 Chef Showdown grand finale. Raleigh’s Adé Carrena of Dounou Cuisine took home NCRLA Chef of the Year.

Adé Carrena

Emily Parker

Jason Queen, Ian Murray

Chad Blackwelder, Inez Nicholson, Jason Allen, Heidi Billotto

Lynn Minges, Steve Troxler

Stephanie Elliot

Jen Altizer, Abby Elfman

This article originally appeared in the October 2023 issue of WALTER magazine.