Fueled by Fire and Focus: Sarah Dawson Is Defining Her Own Path in Charleston’s Culinary Scene
📍 Sous Chef, Segra Club at Charleston RiverDogs | Private Chef with Food, Fire & Knives
📸 @chef_dawson_sarah
Some chefs tiptoe into the industry. Sarah Dawson charged in with sleeves rolled up and a plan to make her mark — and so far, she’s doing exactly that.
Born on November 30, Sarah is a Sagittarius through and through — adventurous, fiercely independent, and impossible to box in. She’s got that signature Sag fire: always learning, always moving, and never afraid of a challenge. From plating dishes at High Cotton to running the kitchen at Segra Club to serving intimate clients as a Private Chef with Food, Fire & Knives, Sarah brings bold energy to everything she touches.
But behind the tattoos and the quiet strength is something even more compelling: deep heart. “My grandmother was my first inspiration,” she says. “She showed me the joy and love that can be found in the kitchen.” That’s the foundation Sarah stands on — and the legacy she’s building in her own way.
A Chef With Range — and Grit
Sarah’s career so far reads like a highlight reel of steady ambition. She’s spent the last few years rising through the ranks in Charleston’s competitive culinary world, earning not just respect but results. Her proudest moment? Getting one of her dishes on the menu at High Cotton, one of Charleston’s most well-known and respected restaurants.
“That was a huge moment for me,” she says. “To know my dish was good enough to represent a place with that kind of reputation — it meant everything.”
Now, as Sous Chef at Segra Club at the Charleston RiverDogs, and a Private Chef through Food, Fire & Knives, Sarah splits her time between high-volume execution and curated, personalized experiences. Whether it’s stadium service or intimate dinners, she thrives under pressure and adapts with ease — something any Sagittarius knows a thing or two about.
A Culinary City That Matches Her Energy
Charleston is no small pond. It’s a food capital, packed with talent, innovation, and a near-religious reverence for great food. But Sarah isn’t intimidated — she’s inspired.
“Charleston is a major food city with such a rich variety of cuisines,” she says. “It’s exciting to be surrounded by so much talent and opportunity.”
And it shows. Sarah holds her own in a sea of seasoned chefs, bringing not only her technical skills but a fresh, fearless perspective. She’s not here to copy anyone else’s style. She’s here to craft her own.
The Grandma Who Lit the Spark
While many chefs can trace their culinary roots to fine dining or flashy shows, Sarah’s inspiration comes from someone far more personal: her grandmother.
“She was my first role model in the kitchen,” Sarah says. “She showed me how much joy and love can come from cooking. That stuck with me.”
It’s clear that Sarah carries that joy with her into every dish she creates — whether it’s for a packed stadium crowd or a family celebration at home. Her food has soul. And that soul is inherited.
Words of Wisdom, Lived and Earned
Sarah doesn’t sugarcoat what it takes to survive — and thrive — in this industry. As a woman in a male-dominated kitchen, she’s learned to show up with strength and confidence.
Her advice to the next generation of women chefs?
“Follow your dream. Even when it gets tough and you feel like quitting, keep pushing forward — you’ll get there. Being a woman in this industry is hard, but if you stay tough and confident, people will respect you.”
It’s that classic Sagittarius resilience — tough-minded, but never cynical. Realistic, but still hopeful. She’s walked the hard road, and she’s making sure others know they can too.
The Chef Who Inspires Her
When it comes to culinary idols, Sarah names someone whose intensity and standards match her own: Gordon Ramsay.
“He’s a real inspiration to me,” she says. “I admire his precision, his passion, and the way he truly cares about both food and people.”
It’s not just the volume of his voice or the edge of his critiques that Sarah respects — it’s his integrity. And that’s something she brings into her own kitchen every day.
Showing Up and Standing Out
In May 2025, Sarah was one of over 30 women to attend Our Table x Charleston, a groundbreaking gathering hosted at The Chef’s Collective. The goal? To spotlight the city’s female chefs, offer professional headshots, and foster community in an industry that can often feel isolating.
Sarah stood out — not just for her quiet confidence, but for the striking balance of professionalism and edge she brought to the room. She wore Funky Chef’s crisp white Koru jacket, featuring a subtle tribal print along one side that perfectly mirrored her energy: polished, grounded, and unapologetically bold. It added just the right flair to her soft-spoken but unmistakable presence.
The tattoos, the calm focus, the precision — it all worked in harmony to showcase a chef who’s doing things her own way, and doing them well.
And like every Sagittarius, she showed up ready to connect, support, and keep pushing forward.
Why Sarah’s Story Matters
At Funky Chef, we design jackets made to actually fit women — but our mission goes deeper. We’re here to tell the stories of the women wearing them. Women like Sarah Dawson, who are building careers on their own terms, one fearless step at a time.
Sarah’s journey is a reminder that you don’t have to follow a script. You don’t have to fit a mold. You don’t need to wait for permission to lead. You can forge your own path, keep your standards high, and still lead with heart.
She’s a chef’s chef — tough, talented, and true to herself.
The Future Is Hers to Build
Sarah Dawson is only getting started. With over 10 years of experience, a sous chef title, and her work with Food, Fire & Knives, she’s one of the sharpest rising talents in Charleston’s culinary scene. But don’t expect her to coast — that Sagittarian hunger to grow, evolve, and expand won’t let her.
She’s already proven she can execute under pressure. She’s already shown she can lead. And now, with every plate she sends out, she’s building something bigger: a name, a reputation, and a space for other women to follow behind her — confident and unapologetic.
Big thanks to Tina McCard for organizing the Our Table event, to Kate Blohm for the stunning photography, and to Meredith Fischl of Eat Drink Play Charleston for helping us spotlight the women shaping the city’s food scene.