sam diminich

In this inspiring interview, Chef Sam Diminich shares his journey from a childhood immersed in hospitality and addiction to becoming a sober chef and restaurant owner. Discover how sobriety transformed his life, enhanced his leadership, and inspired a culture of support and growth in the culinary world.Chef Sam Diminich is the founder and executive chef of Your Farms Your Table Group(YFYT). Diminich launched YFYT as a farm-to-table meal delivery service after being laid off due to the pandemic. It has since evolved into a hospitality group offering catering, curated events, personal chef services, and community-supported meals.In 2023, he opened Restaurant Constance, an intimate, community-focused restaurant where the seasons write the menus. Located in Charlotte’s Wesley Heights neighborhood and named after his daughter, Restaurant Constance was recognized as MICHELINRecommended in the 2025 MICHELIN Guide for the American South. In 2025, Diminich was also named a James Beard Foundation Semifinalist for Best Chef: Southeast. In spring 2026, Diminich will open Grey’s Diner and Community Kitchen, named after his son, as the newest addition to the YFYT family.A Myrtle Beach native, Diminich grew up in his family’s restaurants, was formally trained at the Culinary Institute of America, and worked under Chef Georges Perrier at Philadelphia’s Le Bec-Fin before returning to the Carolinas, including roles at The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte and as Executive Chef at Upstream. Outside of the kitchen, Diminich is a sobriety and mental health advocate and co-leads Charlotte’s Ben’s Friends chapter.