Executive Chef Graham House, Chef de Cuisine Sean McMullen, and Director of Food & Beverage Sarah Charles Hereford are the talented trio behind beloved restaurant Luminosa at The Flat Iron Hotel in Asheville. Known for its elegant yet approachable take on Italian cuisine, Luminosa celebrates the spirit of the mountains through local ingredients, seasonal flavors, and warm, polished hospitality. A Western North Carolina native, Graham marries Italian traditions with Appalachian sensibilities, creating dishes that honor both heritage and innovation. Sean brings nearly twenty years of experience and a deep knowledge of preservation techniques to the kitchen, grounding each dish in authenticity and care. Overseeing both Luminosa and the hotel's intimate speakeasy, Red Ribbon Society, Sarah infuses every guest experience with creativity and refinement. Together, they're redefining modern mountain dining with a unique perspective.

In this episode, the Luminosa team joins Steve for a conversation about empathy in the kitchen, uniting their team with a common goal, and finding joy in cooking and service.

Thank you to The Flat Iron Hotel for allowing us to use their space to film this episode.