Chef Spotlight: Michael Zentner

Along with his wife and business partner, Courtney, Zentner recently opened Merci , a 26-seat French bistro in a former corner grocery in Charleston. The chef shares details on a popular dish, their adjacent market, and why even on a day off, he’s thinking about food.

Good Taste | “The snapper crudo is just salted fish with a lime juice mixture and ajo vierge , which is almond gazpacho with garlic and lemon. It’s topped with herb oil, minced celery, puffed black rice, and chopped almonds. We use few ingredients but treat them carefully for beautifully balanced flavor.”

High Demand | “Petit Merci is our market where you can grab lunch to go. We make sandwiches like you’d get in France—with homemade bread and ingredients like ham and butter, o

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