Nathan Hedlund
Da Toscano Porchetta Shop | Charleston, SC
NOVEMBER 2024
After getting his start as a dishwasher at an Italian restaurant in Douglas, Massachusetts, Nathan Hedlund and his friends hopped in a van and drove across the country. They passed through Florida, Texas, and Colorado before driving down the California coast. When they got back to the Northeast, Hedlund was ready to move out of his small town and set his sights on Charleston. He jumped into a career in the kitchen, helping open Union Provisions before joining the team at Sermet’s Cuisine-Bar. At the restaurant, which blended Mediterranean cuisine with Lowcountry influences, Hedlund expanded his palate, developed new recipes, and learned how to lead a team while working under Chef Sermet Aslan. He went on to work at Chef Ken Vedrinski’s Coda Del Pesce, diving into Italian cuisine and pasta making at the seafood-focused restaurant.
Then, Hedlund took on a pasta production role at Le Farfalle, working for Rising Stars alum Michael Toscano while learning how to forage for mushrooms on the side. When the pandemic hit, Toscano promoted Hedlund to chef de cuisine. He eventually left Le Farfalle and worked in kitchens throughout Charleston, developing his creative culinary style before joining forces with Toscano once more to open Da Toscano Porchetta Shop in 2023. There, he has built sustainable systems, honed in on recipes, and expanded the menu with dishes like his chanterelle sandwich with lardo, Pecorino Toscano, orange blossom honey, and fried rosemary on focaccia. Hedlund, who now oversees Fugazzi at Revelry Brewing as well, is focused on supporting and leading his team as well as providing space for them to learn and grow within the restaurant group.
2024 StarChefs Charleston-Savannah Rising Stars Award Winner
