TOT Special Guest 2025

Chef Sam Diminich

Sam Diminich, an alumnus of St. Andrew Catholic School will be at Taste of the Town 2025!  Stay tuned for fun details about Sam’s involvement in Taste of the Town 2025. 

Originally from Myrtle Beach, Diminich grew up in the restaurants of both his father and grandfather, who came to the US from Italy at age 16 – a classic immigrant story seeking opportunity in America. After working his way up the ranks in his family’s restaurants and training with other local chefs, Diminich attended the Culinary Institute of America.

After graduating with a degree in Culinary Arts, Diminich trained under Chef and Owner Georges Perrier at Le Bec Fin in Philadelphia. He then moved back to the South, where he was Sous Chef at BLT Steak in the Ritz-Carlton Charlotte. He later worked under Executive Chef Raffaele Dall’Erta at The Hampton’s Restaurant in Sumter, SC, and most recently was Executive Chef of Upstream Restaurant in the South Park area of Charlotte. In 2020, Sam appeared on Beat Bobby Flay on the Food Network, taking down the legendary Chef in an epic ‘battle’ of Lobster Risotto. 

Chef Diminich is wildly passionate about working with local ingredients. His approach to food is to honor the ingredients by using sound techniques with a balance of flavors and textures and by blending traditional and contemporary flavors. His goal is to prepare food that brings a celebratory influence to the meal experience as the centerpiece in the story of our lives with our friends and family.

Chef Adam Kirby

Chef Adam Kirby will be the chef at Taste of the Town who will cook off against Chef Sam Diminich. Stay tuned for updated information about the heated competition!

Read more about Chef Kirby by reading this article written by Johanna Wilson Jones, Local Food Writer and Judge on Chef Swap at The Beach