Sera Cuni

Bio

Chef Sera Cuni is the chef and owner of The Root Cellar Café & Catering in Chapel Hill and the former owner of its sister restaurant, Café Root Cellar, which she operated in Pittsboro, North Carolina, for nearly a decade. Classically trained in the culinary arts, she began her career in her home state of Connecticut, drawing inspiration from her family’s Italian and Czech culinary traditions and honing her skills in acclaimed restaurants. Today, her cooking reflects the diversity of American cuisine, rooted in tradition, driven by creativity, and always distinctly her own.

A founding member of the North Carolina Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier, Sera has spent years mentoring and supporting women in the culinary industry. Her commitment to community extends well beyond the kitchen. In 2023, she founded Feed-Well Fridges, a nonprofit community fridge program working to reduce food insecurity and food waste by providing free rescued food and chef-prepared nutritious meals to neighbors in need.

Sera’s culinary and community work has earned numerous honors, including the N.C. Governor’s Medallion Award for Volunteer Service, the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association’s Ken Conrad Award for Service to the Community, and the Duke Energy Citizenship and Service Award. A four-time Food Network competitor, including appearances on Guy’s Grocery Games and Chopped, she was also crowned the winner of Chef Alex Guarnaschelli’s Supermarket Stakeout in 2023.