Episode 61: Chris Coleman of Stoke
Chef Chris Coleman\u2019s respect and love for hometown Charlotte is clear when perusing Stoke\u2019s locally-focused menu. Stoke\u2019s mesmerizing open floor plan distracts from their immediate surroundings--a hotel lobby in Uptown Charlotte's Marriott City Center--instead encouraging diners to gather communally around the 600-degree wood oven. What ensues is an intimate and engaging experience; the food is rustic and simple, not without an eye for detail and a mind towards local sourcing. Chef Coleman fondly tells stories of the Charlotte restaurant scene: from bussing tables at \u201cfish camp\u201d, to his first executive chef position at just 21 years old.