Sera Cuni is the chef and owner of two North Carolina restaurants: Root Cellar Café & Catering in Chapel Hill and a sister spin-off, Café Root Cellar in Pittsboro. Classically trained in the culinary arts, Chef Sera launched her career in her home state of Connecticut, where she grew up surrounded by a family of cooks who embraced their Italian and Czech foodie traditions. Her early kitchen experiences, including in restaurants Main and Hopewell, Americus on the Wharf, and Pastis, all in Connecticut, helped to inform and influence the cuisine she loves to cook today – creative and flavorful dishes that reflect the vast diversity of foods across the Midwestern and Southern United States. A founding member and vice president of the North Carolina Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier, Chef Sera is committed to supporting other women culinary entrepreneurs and working to address food insecurity in North Carolina. In August 2023, Chef Sera founded Feed-Well Fridges, an official 501c3 nonprofit community fridge program that works to reduce food insecurity and commercial food waste in Chatham County. Since launching Feed-Well, Chef Sera has installed 4 fridges in 24/7 publicly accessible spaces, specifically in areas where under-resourced residents live and where there is limited access to fresh and affordable nutritious foods. Since August, the fridges have been stocked with nearly 15,000 pounds of rescued and edible food. In addition, Chef Sera has prepared nearly 15,000 individually packaged meals for the fridges, further helping to feed those in need. Learn more at feedwellfridges.org

Tie’s love of pastry can be traced back to a young age baking fresh pies, breads and cobblers with her grandmother, Angel. Their family hobby turned business idea led Tie from a career path in law to fine pastry. After losing her grandmother in March 2010, Tie decided to dedicate her career to her, their shared love of baking, and their dream of a pastry business. In 2015 after graduating with a Master's in Gastronomy, Buttermilk Boutique was born. An ode to her grandmother, her buttermilk pie, and her love of community. Buttermilk Boutique is a unique pastry company that specializes in luxurious desserts that evoke nostalgia. Her goal is to showcase southern flavors that highlight African American traditions. Her desserts are adorned with local ingredients from North Carolina farmers and purveyors. Tie has been recognized for her sweet talents with features in VoyageRaleigh, NC Agriculture Stove Side Chats, Bustld Weddings, and Our State Magazine. She was a competitor on Food Network’s Guy’s Grocery Games and the Holiday Baking Championship: Gingerbread Showdown. She is a Got To Be NC Culinary Ambassador as well as NCRLA’s Chef Showdown’s 2021 Pastry Chef of the Year, and the 2019 People’s Choice Best Pastry Chef.