Chef Sera Cuni Wins NCRLA 2024 Stars of the Industry Award, Ken Conrad Award for Service to the Community

Sera Cuni, local celebrity chef and owner of Cafe Root Cellar in Pittsboro and Root Cellar Cafe & Catering in Chapel Hill, has been awarded the N.C. Restaurant and Lodging Association’s Ken Conrad Award for Service to the Community. Cuni was selected as a part of the NCRLA’s 2024 Stars of the Industry Awards, which honors those who significantly contributed to the hospitality industry with exceptional service, leadership, and innovation. 

Cuni was one of two honorees selected for the Conrad service award for her nonprofit Feed-Well Fridges. The award honors members who make significant charitable impacts within their communities. Cuni will be among 18 total industry stars recognized during an awards ceremony on Feb. 12, at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel in Durham. 

In August 2023, Cuni launched Feed-Well Fridges, a community fridge program that works to eliminate hunger and commercial food waste in Chatham County. Fridges are placed in 24-7 accessible areas where residents lack access to fresh and affordable food options. Volunteers rescue leftover and edible food daily from restaurants, caterers and grocery stores and redistribute this food to the fridges, helping to feed those in need and decrease the commercial food industry’s carbon footprint. 

Currently, Feed-Well Fridges supports four fridges in Chatham County: two in Siler City and two in Pittsboro, N.C.