Mike Lata is Chef/Co-Owner of FIG and The Ordinary in Charleston, SC. A formidable presence
in the city’s culinary scene, he won the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef:
Southeast in 2009, and was a semifinalist for Outstanding Chef in 2017 and 2018. Lata’s
restaurants have received major accolades of their own, including several James Beard Award
wins and nominations and placement on countless national “Best Restaurant” lists.

A native of Western Massachusetts, Lata began his culinary career at an early age, working in
kitchens in Boston, Martha’s Vineyard, New Orleans, Atlanta, and France before landing in
Charleston in 1998. Today, Lata’s hands-on, self-taught approach is elegant yet uncomplicated,
centered on bright, satisfying dishes that pay homage to Lowcountry traditions. A longtime
champion of area farmers and fishermen, Lata’s outspoken commitment to local foodways has
made him a key player in Charleston’s culinary renaissance.

Lata’s philosophy and contributions to the Charleston community have earned him national
acclaim, including nods from The Wall Street Journal, Food & Wine, Bon Appétit, Esquire,
Garden & Gun, SouthernLiving, Travel + Leisure, USA Today and The New York Times. He has
also appeared on several major television programs, including Food Network’s Iron Chef
America, Bravo’s Top Chef, PBS’s Moveable Feast with Fine Cooking, The Today Show and
ABC’s Nightline Platelist, where his food was deemed “so good it will buckle your knees.” Lata
also serves as a Culinary Consultant to The Kiawah Island Club.