Culinary Q&A – Chef Chris Stewart

Culinary Q&A with Chef Chris Stewart, Chef/Co-Owner

Glass Onion – Charleston, SC

Another add it to your bucket list restaurant, Glass Onion is a favorite of us Southern Coterie girls. Whenever we are in Charleston, we make a mandatory pit stop on the way back home as we head out toward the beautiful drive through the Low Country. Cheri and I promise each time we are going to get something different but we usually end up with the same selections – the special of the day, the grilled pimento cheese sandwich, a plate of deviled eggs and finally a whoopie pie for the drive home. Guess who is so sleepy on that drive home?

As an eighth generation Alabama native, Chris hails from a rich tradition of Southern eating and cooking. Growing up in Birmingham his earliest memories include boiled green peanuts, vegetables straight out of the garden and his Momma’s country fried steak.

Summers spent at his grandparents’ house in Savannah eventually drew him to Charleston where he attended Johnson and Wales University. Upon graduation, he furthered his passion in kitchen like SNOB before becoming the sous chef at FIG. But really it all goes back to that country fried steak. Chris sets out to make his momma proud by serving his version at the Glass Onion.

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First food memory:

Great Sunday supers at my grandmothers house.

Five ingredients always in your pantry:

Flour, Sugar, Red Wine Vinegar, EVO, Jasmine Rice.

Five ingredients always in your fridge:

Dukes, Sriracha, Eggs, Milk, Ranger IPA

What are some of your go-to items you like to serve at a cocktail party?

Liver Mousse, Pimento Cheese, Rotel with Velveeta

What would you want for your last meal?

Definitely my Moms country fried steak with rice, gravy and field peas.

Dream guest list of three people for a dinner party and why?

Old friends and family because they are the most important in my life.

Career if you were not a chef?

Probably a carpenter or builder of some sort.

Do you have a favorite Southern dish that is always better “old school” rather than updated or “improved?”

I am a traditionalist in food. Not a big believer in reinventing the wheel.

Five Favorites –

Favorite Cocktail:

Good liquor on the rocks or up

Favorite Cookbook:

Depends on the mood, but I like all of Jamie Olivers books.

Favorite Kitchen Gadget:

Pairing knife

Favorite artist/musician to listen to in the kitchen:

Pixies

Favorite culinary destination and why:

New York because a lifetime isn’t long enough to do it all!

If you liked this post, read about:

Chef Michelle Weaver here

Chef Shawn Kelly here

Whitney Long is c0-founder of The Southern C and a Southern Living contributing editor. Through this series, she gets to meet some of the South’s finest and most creative chefs all while indulging without the calories.