Top NC Chefs Cooking At Upcoming ‘Melty Fest’ At Hello, Sailor

CORNELIUS, NC — Chefs from some of North Carolina’s best restaurants will soon be on the shore of Lake Norman to host “Melty Fest,” a barbeque and cheese-filled gourmet meal to benefit the Southern Foodway Alliance.

“Oregon's favorite dairy co-op Tillamook is Eastbound and setting out to share its award-winning products with food lovers from coast to coast on the first-ever Melty Fest Tour featuring a series of curated regional events in cities across America,” say event organizers. “To celebrate the great state of North Carolina, Tillamook is teaming up with Hello, Sailor in a full-blast celebration of Southern culinary mastery (and madness) featuring some of the state's most talented chefs.”

The Aug. 5 event at Hello, Sailor in Cornelius features five North Carolina chefs and whole hog barbeque from Buxton Hall, boozy slushies, a DJ spinning and Tillamook ice cream. The meal also showcases Tillamook cheese with a special dish from each of the following chefs:

• Joe Kindred (Hello, Sailor; Kindred, Davidson)
• Craig Diehl (Hello, Sailor, Cornelius)
• John Fleer (Rhubarb, Asheville)
• Elliot Moss (Buxton Hall, Asheville)
• Matt Kelly (Saint James Seafood, Durham)

The event is $65 per person, which includes all food and open bar.