Chris McLaurin
Lutra Cafe & Bakery
Bio
Chef Chris McLaurin is a Chapel Hill native and the chef-owner of Lutra Cafe & Bakery, located at Durham’s American Tobacco Campus. A graduate of L’Academie de Cuisine, McLaurin built an extensive culinary foundation in Washington, D.C., working in the kitchens of acclaimed dining spots Komi and Little Serow under James Beard Award–winning chef Johnny Monis.
After returning to North Carolina in 2013, he honed his expertise across both savory and pastry operations throughout the Triangle, including roles at Rose’s, Bar Lusconi, and Picnic, as well as serving as chef de cuisine at Ashley Christensen’s Poole’side Pies. He launched Lutra in 2024 as a popular farmers market and pop-up concept before opening its brick-and-mortar cafe and bakery in June 2026, serving breakfast and lunch daily with a focus on neighborhood hospitality, quality baking, and community.
Dish Description
Buttermilk Biscuit Breakfast Sandwich