Fresh and Local Fare

by Candace Lagerhausen

Mel Funk’s excitement toward the restaurant business is contagious. “It’s the greatest business on Earth!”, he stated while talking about his restaurant, Fresh Chef Kitchen. First established back in 2014, Mel has turned his passion into a string of restaurants, and is currently working on opening his eighth and ninth location.

Mel describes Fresh Chef Kitchen as “upscale casual”. Their menu ranges from items like salads and wraps, to chicken marsala and grilled salmon. They pride themselves on having all fresh, handmade food, and even source their food locally from Cheney Brothers in Statesville. Beyond the restaurants, Fresh Chef Kitchen also offers catering, and can accommodate a wide range of events.

With one restaurant in Mooresville, Mel is set to open another Iredell County location, this time in Statesville. “I certainly think Statesville is definitely the place you want to be” he said while speaking of the new site. This new location will be run by Courtney Bragg, who some might already know as the owner of 220 Café in Statesville. Courtney has been the General Manager for Fresh Chef – Mooresville for the last few years, but says, “It’s exciting to come back to Statesville”. Fresh Chef Kitchen in Statesville is located at 179 Turnersburg Highway in Statesville.