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Celebrity chef and Greenville native Tyler Florence returned to his hometown on Sept. 15, 2022, where he spoke at Soby's New South Cuisine downtown during the food festival Euphoria. Eric Connor/staff

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Celebrity chef and Greenville native Tyler Florence returned to his hometown on Sept. 15, 2022, where he spoke at Soby's New South Cuisine downtown during the food festival Euphoria. Eric Connor/staff

GREENVILLE — Food Network star and Greenville native Tyler Florence returned to his hometown ahead of the upscale food festival event Euphoria, which runs the course of Sept. 15-18.

The celebrity chef spoke to a small gathering of media at Soby's New South Cuisine downtown on the festival's first day ahead of a $275 multi-course wine dinner. The discussion centered mostly on growing up in Greenville and the influence of its culinary scene and how much it has changed.

The Euphoria event, which features special tastings and classes, music and the like, is mostly sold out but has a few spots remaining.

For more than 15 years, Florence has appeared on the Food Network in various productions including his signature show, "Tyler's Ultimate," along with regular guest spots on multiple major network talk shows. He is owner and executive chef of Wayfare Tavern in San Francisco and has been a James Beard Foundation semifinalist.

Before TV fame, Florence studied at Johnson & Wales University culinary school in Charleston and made his way to New York City, where he rose in the ranks as prestigious chef.

Before becoming a professional chef, Florence, who grew up just outside Furman University, said he learned Southern cooking from his grandmother and ticked off a list of what were staples of dining in Greenville.

The Peddler steakhouse, which sits up on a hill off Poinsett Highway and was the classic prom-date establishment, offered him what he said was his first experience of a steak wrapped in bacon.

Restaurants like the Peddler, along with the Fish Market and Stax Peppermill, represented an experience of Southern fine dining at the time, when "at 5 p.m. it was showtime."

It was while working at the Fish Market that Florence said he learned the exact hand placement for carrying a tray. He said he served as a cook at Little Caesar's pizza and used to wear the mascot uniform in downtown Christmas parades.

One major influence in choosing his career path, he joked, was a chef who rode a Harley and attracted a host of female admirers.

If the Upstate is defined by a cuisine, Florence said it would be Carolina-style barbecue, one of the four pillars of barbecue style along with Memphis, Kansas City and Texas.

Arriving at the Charlotte airport, Florence said he insisted he and his support staff drive Interstate 85 and visit whatever establishment got great reviews on the collective rating site Yelp.

The city and the path there is worth the drive, he said.

"Greenville is there," Florence said, after earlier in the day visiting Greenville County School District culinary classes. "It's not to be messed with, and don't miss it, don't drive by it."

Follow Eric on Twitter at @cericconnor.

Eric is a reporter and local editor for The Post and Courier in Greenville. Previously with The Greenville News, he's covered the Upstate for two decades and served as a USA TODAY correspondent. He studied journalism at the University of South Carolina.

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