When Charlotte native Vance Houser, 32, was growing up he never would have expected that one day he would be running a kitchen at one of Charlotte’s most beloved family restaurants, Dish. Houser, who graduated from Independence High School in 2005 originally went on to college to study Graphic Design. After only a short time in school and needing to support himself, Houser had taken on a role in a kitchen out of necessity. “It’s the greatest thing I could have done for my career,” Houser says. “I started cooking because it was something I was pretty good at that helped pay the bills. It quickly turned into a passion and once I realized I was starting a career I loved I’ve never looked back.”

Chef Vance started out building the specials program at Leroy Fox, then went on to being a Head Chef for local ramen hotspot, Futo Buta. Now, Houser is running the kitchen as Head Chef at Plaza Midwood’s long-standing destination for all things comfort and southern cuisine, Dish. “Being in different kitchens with different types of cuisine has helped me become the chef I am today,” says Houser. Working with the team at Dish and having the culinary freedom offered to work in such an iconic space is the dream.”