This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is presented by PBS Charlotte’s “Unspun” program helping you learn what politicians are thinking but not saying. It’s hosted by former Gov. Pat McCrory.
Sam Hart didn’t grow up in the kitchen. Fast food and corporate dining were more familiar than family recipes. But a broke stretch in Utah turned cooking into a daily necessity — then into an obsession.
In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, host Steve Dunn sits down with Hart, creator of Counter- and founder of Irreverently Refined Hospitality Group, to talk about how a sketchbook idea became Charlotte’s first and only Michelin-starred restaurant. Hart explains why Counter is not a restaurant but a “fully immersive sensory dining experience” — and how mental health, sustainability and storytelling shape every menu. In this conversation, they also discuss:
Why Hart rejects the word “restaurant” for Counter-
The Netflix “Chef’s Table” episode that changed Hart’s trajectory
Staging at Alinea in Chicago — and the grueling experience that followed
The personal breaking point that reshaped Hart’s approach to kitchen culture
The early Counter- pop-ups in Charlotte before Covid
The philosophy behind changing the menu every 90 days
Counter-’s built-in closing date: Sept. 9, 2032
What earning Charlotte’s only Michelin star — and a Michelin Green Star — means
Where Hart likes to eat in Charlotte
The word “sonder,” tattooed on Hart’s face, and the concept being developed after Counter-
We hope you enjoy the conversation with Sam Hart. To learn more or make a reservation with Counter, visit CounterCLT.com.
This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.
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