Sunny Gerhart – a James Beard Foundation nominee for “Best Chef Southeast”– opened St. Roch Fine Oysters & Bar in Raleigh in 2017 as an homage to his Louisiana roots and Olivero in Wilmington in 2023 to honor of his mother, her family and their Spanish and Italian heritage. St. Roch earned a glowing four-star review at St. Roch and became known as an “oyster lovers paradise” and Raleigh’s “go-to” for cliche-free New Orleans cuisine, while Olivero was of the “Most Anticipated” openings for the Carolinas this year. Gerhart credits his work alongside JBF “Outstanding Chef” Ashley Christensen at Poole’s Diner and Joule Coffee + Table for his early path to success. Since opening St. Roch, he has also developed a reputation for his commitment to community service; he served over 80,000 meals to neighbors in need during the pandemic, and today St. Roch is as a “Meal Funder” for the new non-profit addressing food insecurity, “Now Serving,” for which he was the founding chef.

While St Roch honors Gerhart’s birthplace with soulful, seafood-focused cuisine and his spirited take on New Orleans classics, Olivero is inspired by the flavors his European ancestors infused into their New Orleans food traditions. Here, alongside co-chef Lauren Krall Ivey, Gerhart shares rich house made pastas, creamy croquetas and dishes kissed by the wood-fired grill.