Fusion, Hilton Head Island

Raised in South India and trained in kitchens across Europe, chef Anish Gopinath embraces local flavors at Fusion. Low Country favorites such as she-crab soup can be paired with southern standards of oysters rockefeller or grits jazzed up with shrimp. Chef Anish also puts his own spin on American steak-house fare, with dates and saffron complementing lamb and guava and jalapeño glazes adding new tastes to cuts of beef. Perhaps it's these new medleys of flavors, along with a commitment to serve local and sustainable cuisine, that won him the Hilton Head Island Iron Chef Challenge in 2013.