Chef Sam Diminich is opening a new restaurant — and giving away his coveted recipes.
Chef Sam Diminich has a lot of accolades to his name — personal chef to Christian McCaffrey, recovery advocate, founder of Your Farms Your Table, winner of beat Bobby Flay — but if you ask him, his most important title is simply, “Dad.”
When Diminich named his daughter Constance 18 years ago, he had no idea he’d also be naming his future restaurant. Restaurant Constance, Diminich’s latest culinary endeavor, is set to open this Fall in Charlotte at 2200 Thrift Road as first reported by Unpretentious Palate. A nod to his daughter, the restaurant will be in the former Counter- location — adjacent to Diminich’s Your Farms Your Table space at The City Kitch.
“I didn’t even really have any aspirations of opening a restaurant, especially when the pandemic happened — I was really resentful of the industry,” Diminich said. “But when I started doing in-home events as part of Your Farms Your Table, I started to remember the person-to-person energy and how it feels to connect with people. Food is my language and seeing people’s reaction to it is special.”
The concept for Restaurant Constance is similar to Your Farms Your Table delivery service in that it will feature all locally grown, seasonal food that changes daily and supports the local farming community. The difference is that Restaurant Constance will feature a carefully refined menu of what Diminich says are the most important foods in his life. Guests will be able to scan a QR code on the menu to learn more about the farmers and individuals behind the scenes, who Diminich calls, “the real heroes of our community.”
So how did Diminich pick the name for his restaurant and what does his son think about it?
“When I think of energy and creativity I think of Constance — there is no blueprint for first-time parenthood, so we really grew up together,” Diminich said.
Things were not always smooth sailing between Diminich and his children. He battled addiction and homelessness and was violently attacked while living on the streets of Charlotte before starting on his sobriety journey in 2014.
“I get a lot of love for being a solid parent but I think it’s important to point out that when I was struggling I wasn’t around for almost three years. There was a reintroduction process with me and my kids and their mom and it took about a year and a half,” Diminich said. “They showed me such compassion and empathy — things I wasn’t witness to yet.”
Diminich felt stigmatized and uncomfortable with himself, but having them there as he grew, allowed their relationship to do the same. “Something really special happened — the relationship with my kids shifted from a parental dynamic to more of a friendship-based relationship. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without them. They were witness to someone failing — and failing in a big way — but also picking himself back up as well. They had a front-row seat and there is something to learn from that,” Diminich said.
When Diminich shared with his daughter that he was planning to name his new restaurant after her, Constance was elated — but how did his son, Allan Grey, feel? “He joked, can I at least get a burger? A sandwich named after me? Something?” Diminich said.
There will be a doorway between Restaurant Constance and Your Farms Your Table so both spaces can be used for meal and event prep and Diminich can oversee all operations. He also has also handpicked a leadership team, which he described as humble, resilient and reflective of the diverse community it is serving.
But wait, there’s more: Announcing Farm Cult Club
Fans of Diminich can feel like McCaffrey for a day by signing up for his new Farm Cult Club, launching March 7.
The club includes two meals each month from Your Farms Your Table, preferred reservations at Restaurant Constance and a tasting menu for you and a guest prepared at your home by Diminich — in addition to some Farm Cult swag.
Perhaps the most valuable part of membership though, is something the chef who once beat Bobby Flay has yet to share — access to his personal recipes that he has spent 30 years developing and perfecting.
Farm Cult Club’s annual membership is $600 and spots will be limited.
As more details on joining are announced, we will give you an update – so keep your eye on this space.
Constance
Location: 2200 Thrift Road, Charlotte, NC 28208
Neighborhood: Wesley Heights
This story was originally published February 28, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
