Charlotte’s top dining destinations: Stagioni
The Chef: Chef Andrew Dodd
Since he was a teenager in Nashville, Chef Andrew Dodd has been in love with the controlled chaos of a restaurant kitchen. From Nashville, where he learned to cook from his father, Chef Dodd moved around the country and worked in several kitchens before moving to Charlotte to attend Johnson & Wales University. Dodd says he takes inspiration from Jonathan Waxman, who has been able to embrace and perfect various types of cuisine during his career, including French and Italian. Working closely with owner Bruce Moffett, Dodd is able to craft Stagioni’s menu and come up with modern, Italian dishes that coincide with seasonal flavors (Stagioni means “seasons” in Italian). Dodd also works with local farmers, such as Harmony Ridge Farm and Urban Gourmet Farms, as well as local meat suppliers, allowing the fresh ingredients to determine his menu.
The Dish: Spaghetti & Scallops
In recent months, the decadent spaghetti with scallops dish has become one of the most popular items on the menu at Stagioni. Executive Chef Andrew Dodd came up with the dish, which consists of handmade spaghetti, scallops, toasted prosciutto, parmesan cream, shallots, leeks, and a pea and chive puree. Chef Dodd’s recipe is a nod to Stagioni’s concept of Italian food with a slightly Southern twist, using ingredients at the height of freshness to get the most flavor out of them. Fresh scallops top the pasta, while the crispiness of the toasted prosciutto and the creaminess of the pea and chive puree come together to create a well-balanced dish, both in taste and texture. In addition to the dish’s full flavor, Chef Andrew’s artful presentation, with the pea and chive puree essentially painted on the plate, makes it one of Stagioni’s most beautiful, colorful, and sought after dishes to date.
The Look: Taste of Tuscany
The design inspiration of Stagioni is drawn from the historic Tuscan-style villa where the restaurant resides. Blanche Reynolds built the Reynolds-Gourmajenko home in the 1920s and was known for throwing lavish dinner parties there. Stagioni continues that tradition with a focus on exquisite food, wine, and cocktails for people to create memories around the table. The design of the restaurant reflects the 1920s Prohibition era with Reynolds family photos adorning the walls, and shades of red in light fixtures and curtains to offset the dark wood tables. The dining room is open to the large kitchen, where you can watch the chef making pizza in the wood-fired oven, or hand-rolling pasta. Thanks to the design and menu, Stagioni has been called one of the most romantic restaurants in Charlotte.
Stagioni: 715 Providence Road, Charlotte.
This story was originally published April 19, 2016 at 6:40 PM.