SAM DIMINICH | EXECUTIVE CHEF & OWNER - RESTAURANT CONSTANCE
Cooking is in Chef Sam Diminich’s lineage. Originally from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Diminich grew up in the restaurants of both his father and grandfather. After working his way up the ranks in his family restaurants and training with other local chefs, Diminich enrolled at the Culinary Institute of America where he graduated with a degree in Culinary Arts.

After graduation, Diminich trained under Chef and Owner Georges Perrier at Le Bec Fin in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He then headed back to the South where he worked BLT Steak located in the Ritz Carlton Charlotte, Executive Chef Raffaele Dall’Erta at The Hampton’s Restaurant in Sumter and was Executive Chef of Upstream Restaurant in the SouthPark area of Charlotte. In 2019 Sam appeared on Beat Bobby Flay on the Food Network Channel, taking down the legendary Chef in a ‘battle’ of Lobster Risotto.

Sam has also been very transparent about his sobriety and has found a purpose in sharing his journey publicly in hopes of helping others with similar journeys. He is Co-Leader of the Charlotte, NC chapter of Ben’s Friends, a food and beverage support group offering hope, fellowship and path forward to those food and beverage professionals who struggle with addiction and alcoholism.

Chef Diminich is passionate about working with local ingredients. His approach to cooking is to honor the ingredients using sound techniques with a balance of flavors and textures blending traditional flavors with contemporary ones. His goal is to have a celebratory impact on the guest dining experience.

In March of 2020, Chef Diminich started Your Farms Your Table – a farm-to-table meal delivery service to promote local farms during the pandemic – this venture was instantly successful and would soon expand into events, personal chef services, community impact meals and eventually a standalone restaurant, Restaurant Constance, named after Chef Sam’s daughter, which opened in January of 2023.

When he is not in the kitchen, Sam enjoys spending time with his two children, Constance and Allan Grey, enjoying the beauty of the Carolinas.

MCKENZIE SCHMITT | DISTRICT MANAGER NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTH CAROLINA - BANFI VINTNERS
McKenzie Schmitt is a dedicated wine professional with over 11 years in the industry, having held positions in restaurants, alcohol wholesale, and winery suppliers. She has achieved several industry-standard wine certifications including the Level III Award in Wines from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust, Certified Specialist of Wine from the Society of Wine Educators, and Certified Sommelier from the Court of Master Sommeliers-Americas.

Beginning her career at Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School in California, McKenzie worked in Michelin star restaurants in San Francisco before returning to Charlotte to attend Johnson & Wales University, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Restaurant, Food, and Beverage Management. She then transitioned from the restaurant industry to pursue a career in the alcohol wholesale industry, ultimately finding a position with Empire Distributors, specializing in selling their high-end fine wine portfolio to some of Charlotte’s best wine shops, restaurants, and country clubs.

McKenzie Schmitt now represents a diverse premium wine portfolio as the Banfi District Manager for North and South Carolina. Banfi has a long and storied history of not only producing world-class Brunello but also offering an array of fine wines from around the world while championing environmental responsibility. Banfi firmly believes in creating a better wine world for everyone, something that McKenzie Schmitt is extremely proud to be a part of.