Amy Fortes

Amy Fortes grew up in Lockport, NY just outside of Buffalo. Starting in the kitchen at 16 as a dishwasher she quickly fell in love with the camaraderie of the industry.  She moved to the Charlotte area in 2006 to finish her degree in culinary arts as well as a bachelor’s in food service management at Johnson and Wales.  

She began her career with the Harpers Restaurant Group in 2008 as an extern and once hired full time, worked her way up to sous chef by working at numerous restaurants within the company, finishing her time at Upstream Seafood. 

She and her husband Jon opened their first restaurant, The Flipside Café in December of 2013 and have opened numerous others including a thriving catering company since. (The Flipside Restaurant, Salmeri’s Italian Kitchen, and FM Eatery, currently).  

She was nominated and awarded the honor of being a 2017 SC Chef Ambassador.  

She is the proud stepmom of two high school boys, Brennan and Dylan and mom to daughter Olive.