Charlotte’s top dining destinations: Gallery Restaurant
The Chef: Chef Benjamin Kallenbach
Benjamin Kallenbach is currently the executive pastry chef at The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge. He received his culinary training at Kendall College in Chicago before working and continuing his education around the world. His inspirations include Christophe Michalak, Pierre Hermé and Oriol Balaguer.
“Their indelible mark on French and Spanish cooking has changed the face of the industry. It has helped take the pastry chef out of the shadows and allow them to share the spotlight,” Kallenbach says. “Their continuous innovations, creativity and pursuit of perfection throughout the years are the key attributes by which I constantly attempt to exemplify.”
The support and freedom to create is the chef’s favorite part of working at Gallery Restaurant. Anything that he or his team wants to try, they can do it. They have a base level of quality they refuse to drop below and now they are able to play and create while, hopefully, coming up with something that amazes their guests.
The Look: Destination Dining
Located at The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge, Gallery Restaurant has worked hard to make its space feel like its own separate destination, working with multiple local fabricators to achieve a timeless look through the interior design of its restaurant. The restaurant hopes to give its guests an experience of “quiet elegance” by creating a sense of privacy, complemented with an enhanced ambiance, explains Peter Grills, general manager at The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge.
Gallery helps to secure an authentic gallery feeling and experience with an exclusive display from Shain Gallery, one of Charlotte’s finest contemporary art providers. The featured art rotates and is available for purchase and has been well-received by customers of Gallery Restaurant. At night, the atmosphere becomes a bit more romantic with locally made candles being lit on each table to give off a more intimate vibe.
The Dish: Strawberries & Chocolate
Every season, to incorporate the freshest ingredients possible, Gallery Restaurant writes new menus. Recently introduced on the spring 2016 menu is its signature dish strawberries and chocolate. The dish features Valrhona Bahibe milk chocolate Bavarian, chocolate cake, pickled strawberries, strawberry gel, and cocoa nib-strawberry swirl ice cream. While a classic pairing of flavors, what makes this dish unique is the use of pickled strawberries and single origin milk chocolate from Valrhona. The strawberries have an unexpected taste that complements all other items in the dish, while the chocolate has a unique flavor profile that adds another layer to the taste elements.
The pastry philosophy of Gallery is to put a twist on a classic dish to make it special and unforgettable, which they certainly do with this signature dish.
Gallery Restaurant: 10000 Ballantyne Commons Parkway, Charlotte.
This story was originally published April 22, 2016 at 1:30 AM.