Chef Dan Giusti grew up in a food-loving Italian family inspired Dan to attend the Culinary Institute of America in New York. He quickly rose through the culinary ranks, serving as Executive Chef of 1789 in Washington, D.C. and Head Chef of Noma in Copenhagen. After three years in the latter role, he returned to the United States to tackle another culinary challenge: school food.

 In 2016, he founded Brigaid, assembling a team of professional chefs who were eager to apply their culinary expertise  to help school foodservice programs achieve their goals. Today, Brigaid’s work has expanded to senior centers and a state prison system. It remains guided by Dan’s belief that everyone deserves nourishing food, cooked with care and passion.  

Chef Brian Dunsmoor of Dunsmoor Restaurant Los Angeles, California

Praised as one of the “Ten Chefs of the Millennium '' by Food & Wine magazine, Susur Lee is still at the top of his game.

David LeFevre is a veteran of the Los Angeles dining scene, often credited with transforming the culinary landscape of the South Bay in particular, with a diverse and growing roster of critically acclaimed restaurants.

Jacque Pepin was born in 1935 in Bourg-en-Bresse, France, near Lyon, Pépin always found the kitchen to be a place of both comfort and excitement. He helped in his parents’ restaurant, Le Pélican, and, at age 13, began an apprenticeship at the Grand Hôtel de L’Europe. He subsequently worked in Paris, ultimately serving as personal chef to three French heads of state, including Charles de Gaulle.

Josiah Citrin is a culinary expert and veteran of Los Angeles’s gourmet dining scene, with more than 37 years of experience. He is chef and owner of Santa Monica, California’s Mélisse Restaurant.

Mei Lin is a chef and television personality known for her appearances (and victories) on Bravo’s Top Chef: Boston and the fourth season of Food Network’s Tournament of Champions.

Marcus Samuelsson is the renowned chef behind many restaurants worldwide including Red Rooster in Harlem (NYC) and Overtown (Miami); Hav & Mar in Chelsea (NYC); several MARCUS locations including the Bahamas, Newark, and Atlanta; and his newest concept, Metropolis at the Perelman Performing Arts Center (World Trade Center, NYC) which opened November 2023. Samuelsson was the youngest person to ever receive a three-star review from The New York Times and has won eight James Beard Foundation Awards. Additionally, Samuelsson has won numerous competition shows including Top Chef Masters and Chopped All-Stars and appears regularly on those franchises as a Judge. He also recently appeared as an Iron Chef on Netflix’s Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend. Samuelsson is the author of multiple books including The New York Times bestselling memoir Yes, Chef and The Rise: Black Cooks and the Soul of American Food. Follow Samuelsson on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter at @MarcusCooks and on TikTok at @Marcus_Cooks.

Follow Him: @rob_levitt ABOUT HEAD BUTCHER AND CHEF ROB LEVITT: Acclaimed chef and butcher Rob Levitt first got his feet wet in the culinary world working as a dishwasher while pursuing a degree in Jazz Performance at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. Sparked by his new passion for the restaurant industry, Levitt continued to cultivate his skills at the Culinary Institute of America before landing at the Park Avenue Café in Manhattan. With a desire to move back to the Midwest, Rob relocated to Chicago and worked his way through some of the city’s most popular restaurants including modern Spanish tapas spot, del Toro, Michelin-starred North Pond and acclaimed Italian eatery 312 Chicago before opening his first restaurant Mado, with his wife Allison in 2008. After three years of critical acclaim, the duo took the next step and opened The Butcher & Larder, Chicago’s first local, sustainable, whole animal butcher shop, which has been recognized for excellence in its craft by Food & Wine, GQ, The Travel Channel, The Food Network, The Good Food Awards and more. In 2015, Levitt joined Chicago-based Local Foods, to share knowledge and further expand The Butcher & Larder’s offerings with café, retail and wholesale distribution opportunities. After nearly 20 years mastering his skill and with nine years of butcher experience under his belt, Levitt eventually caught the attention of James Beard Award-winning Chef Paul Kahan, landing the coveted role of head butcher and chef of One Off Hospitality’s beloved Publican Quality Meats. Expanding upon Kahan’s signature "snout to tail” approach to butchery, Levitt captains the culinary program at PQM, creating a seasonal menu featuring rustic soups, gourmet salads, and sandwiches, while mastering an array of natural and organic meat products, house-made sausages and more at Chicago’s critically acclaimed butcher shop, neighborhood café, bakery and gourmet market. 

Chef Neal Fraser, owner of multiple restaurant concepts in Los Angeles, started his career in the kitchen at age 20. Fraser touts an impressive resume that includes a degree from the Culinary Institute of America and an honor roll of kitchen credits such as Wolfgang Puck’s Eureka and Spago, Checkers Hotel under Thomas Keller, Joachim Splichal’s Pinot Bistro, Hans Rockenwagner’s Rox, and the highly revered Boxer. Currently, he and his business partner/wife Amy Knoll Fraser own and operate critically acclaimed Redbird and high-volume special events and performing arts venue Vibiana.

Follow him: @chefsawyer Chef Jonathon Sawyer  Get ready to be swept away by the incredible journey of Jonathon Sawyer, a Chicago-born chef whose love for food was ignited by an old-world German chef. As a young man, Sawyer found himself trapped in an engineering program, staring at an auto-cad program every day. His only escape was cooking at a local restaurant every night, under the watchful eye of a stubborn and surly German chef. One day, the chef, with his thick accent, surprised Sawyer with high praise, telling him, "You, you are good at cooking." And just like that, Sawyer's fate was sealed.Leaving engineering school behind, Sawyer enrolled in culinary school, where he discovered his true love and passion for cooking. But his journey was far from over. He went on to work for renowned Chef Charlie Palmer in New York City before opening his own restaurants, Parea in NYC and Lolita in Ohio, for Michael Symon. But it was back home in Cleveland, where Sawyer built his small restaurant empire, including The Greenhouse Tavern, Noodlecat, and Trentina. He even ventured into the stadium business and started a probiotic vinegar business. Sawyer's talent did not go unnoticed, and in 2010 he won the Food & Wine "Best New Chef" award, followed by the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef: Great Lakes in 2015. In 2020, Sawyer opened Adorn Bar & Restaurant in Chicago, which was a hit and earned a spot in the prestigious 2021 Michelin Guidebook. His latest venture, Kindling, located in the Willis Tower and a dream live-fire restaurant in partnership with The 50/Fifty Group, has been hailed as one of the best restaurants of 2023. But that's not all! Sawyer has also made a name for himself on television. He is currently a celebrity chef on Food Network's highest-rated show, Tournament of Champions, and has appeared on several other shows, including the premier episode of Bobby Flay's Triple Threat, The Best Thing I Ever Ate, and Chopped. He has also authored two cookbooks: the best-selling children's cookbook, Noodlekids Cookbook, and House of Vinegar, a cult classic among home cooks. When he's not busy whipping up culinary masterpieces, Chef Sawyer can be found exploring the great outdoors, hiking and foraging with his furry companions by his side. He also enjoys quality time with his family, engaging in friendly board game competitions with his wife, Amelia, and their children, Catcher and Louisiana. Beyond his love for cooking, Sawyer is also dedicated to giving back to his community, regularly working with various charities to donate his time and culinary expertise where needed. With a heart as big as his passion for food, Chef Sawyer is truly a man of many talents and interests.   

Don’t hose me baby!!!!! Drew Nieporent, one of America's most respected and celebrated restaurateurs, is the founder and inspiration behind the Myriad Restaurant Group, which operates Tribeca Grill, Nobu New York City, Nobu Fifty Seven, Nobu London, Nobu Next Door, Bâtard, Porsche Grille at Citi Field, and Crush Wine & Spirits. Over the last 30 years, Myriad has opened and operated over 39 restaurants around the world, including Seattle, Louisville, Providence, Boca Raton, London, San Francisco, Moscow, Citi Field, home of the New York Mets in Flushing, New York.Nieporent's first restaurant, the groundbreaking Montrachet (1985), earned three stars from The New York Times and kept that rating for 21 years. In 2008, the restaurant reopened as Corton, maintaining its three New York Times stars and receiving two Michelin stars with chef-partner Paul Liebrandt at the helm. In May of 2014, Nieporent reopened the space as Bâtard with the help of chef- partner Markus Glocker and partner John Winterman. Earning three stars from The New York Times, New York Magazine, and a coveted Michelin star, the restaurant opened to critical acclaim. As 2014 came to an end, Bâtard landed at the top of several end-of-year lists, including the number one spot on The New York Times' list of "The 10 Best New Restaurants of 2014". In May of 2015, the restaurant won the James Beard award for “Best New Restaurant”.Tribeca Grill (1990), with partner Robert De Niro and an all-star roster of investors including Bill Murray, Sean Penn, and Mikhail Baryshnikov, opened to national acclaim and continues to be one of New York's landmark restaurants.In 1994, again with partner Robert De Niro and sushi master Nobu Matsuhisa, Drew launched Nobu New York City to worldwide acclaim. Nobu NYC, Next Door Nobu, and Nobu Fifty Seven have all earned the coveted three-star rating from The New York Times. Nobu NYC was voted Best Restaurant in America by The James Beard Foundation. Nobu has gone on to open restaurants in all parts of the world.Also in 1994, Nieporent was one of the few American restaurateurs to go bi-coastal. In collaboration with Robert De Niro, Robin Williams, and Francis Ford Coppola, he opened Rubicon in San Francisco.Myriad's excellence in wine service is widely acknowledged. It is the only restaurant group to earn three coveted Grand Awards from Wine Spectator Magazine - for Rubicon, Montrachet, and Tribeca Grill. In 2005, Myriad opened Crush Wine & Spirits, which was named the best new wine shop by Food & Wine Magazine.Nieporent graduated in 1973 from Stuyvesant High School and in 1977 from Cornell University with a degree from the School of Hotel Management. While at Cornell, he worked on the world class cruise ships Vistafjord and Sagafjord. In 1978, he began his management career with Warner Le Roy at New York City's Maxwell's Plum and Tavern On The Green. He then worked at the prestigious French restaurants Le Perigord, La Grenouille and Plaza Athenee's Le Regence.Drew donates his time to dozens of charities. He is on the board of Madison Square Garden's Garden of Dreams Foundation, Citymeals-on-Wheels, and DIFFA, an Honorary Chair of the City Harvest Food Council and Culinary Director of the Jackson Hole Wine Auction. He has co-chaired SOS's Taste of the Nation event in New York City since 1997. He has been honored by Careers Through Culinary Arts Program (2009), American Heart Association (1999), the Tourette Syndrome Association (2000), Food Allergy Initiative (2001), American Liver Foundation (2003), Cancer Research & Treatment Fund (2005), and Kristen Ann Carr Fund (2006). Drew is in great demand as a spirited, highly effective auctioneer at charity events.

Waxman is the chef/owner of Barbuto in Manhattan’s West Village and Jams at 1 Hotel Central Park.

Be sure to check him out here: @pizzeriabianco When Chris Bianco started the diminutive Pizzeria Bianco inside the back corner of a neighborhood grocery store, little did he know that he would be such a driving force in the slow food movement and specifically the artisanal pizza front. Chris, who won the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southwest in 2003, helped spawn a generation of independent and artisanal pizzeria’s, lending his advice, wisdom and food philosophies to dozens of fellow chefs and restaurateurs. In 2005, Chris opened Pane Bianco, about four miles from the Pizzeria. Pane features split foccacia sandwiches and other baked goods including Bianco’s signature pizza al taglio. Pane Bianco has been voted best sandwich in Phoenix on several occasions. Bianco rounded out the lineup opening an elevated dinner restaurant, Tratto, in Phoenix. Tratto received the only 5 star rating from the Arizona Republic. There are currently two Pizzeria Biancos in the Phoenix area and in 2022 Bianco opened the first Pizzeria Bianco outside of the state in downtown Los Angeles. Recently, Bianco opened a Pane Bianco at the Row DTLA in Los Angeles, just across the street from the Pizzeria. In 2013 & 2014, Pizzeria Bianco was nominated for a James Beard Award in the Outstanding Restaurant category and in 2022 won the award for Outstanding Restauranteur to go along with his Best Chef Award. In 2010, Chris joined with third generation canner Rob DiNapoli to create a line of organic whole peeled tomatoes. The Bianco DiNapoli lineup has grown into a national consumer and food service brand. The New York times has rated Bianco DiNapoli as the best canned tomato in 2020 and 2022. Chris also supports many local and national charities, providing support to many worthy causes. He has supported Alex’s Lemonade Stand for many years, started by a young girl named Alex, who was battling her own cancer and yet wanted to raise money to find a cure so that other children wouldn’t have to suffer.

One of Houston’s most talked about chefs, Ryan Lachaine the chef/partner of Riel, was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. His culinary education began at the apron strings of his Ukrainian mother and grandmother as they churned out pierogies, cabbage rolls and other treasured family recipes.

You may recognize Rebecca from her victorious appearance on Top Chef: Just Desserts or the standout mention in Southern Living where her Houston-based, sweet tooth haven of a storefront, Fluff Bake Bar, was named one of the “South’s Best Bakeries

Chef Michael Symon cooks with soul. Growing up in a Greek and Sicilian family, the Cleveland native creates boldly flavored, deeply satisfying dishes at his restaurants: Mabel’s BBQ, Bar Symon and Angeline. Michael also shares his exuberant, approachable cooking style and infectious laugh with viewers on Food Network shows Symon’s Dinners & Throwdown.

From chef and restaurateur to television personality, food policy advocate and entrepreneur, Spike Mendelsohn is a force to be reckoned with in the culinary world.

Paul is a self-taught landscape, fashion and sports photographer and music video director and has worked with musicians such as Die Toten Hosen, Marteria and Lena, as well as with football player Odell Beckham Jr. and basketball player Dirk Nowitzki.

Michele Forgione is a Montreal chef and restaurateur. Executive Chef/co-owner four restaurants, Impasto, Pizzeria Gema, Chez Tousignant and Vesta are located in the heart of Montreal's Little Italy

Every decade or so Chef Will Goldfarb finds a few minutes of sunshine. Recently named by The World’s 50 Best as the World’s Best Pastry Chef, 2021 saw the revamped Room4Dessert, his endearingly resilient dessert bar, surrounded by a garden full of medicinal plants, taken to another level. A new menu. A new attitude. A new way to share millennia of local wisdom on health and healing to life.

Lior Lev Sercarz is the chef and owner of La Boîte, a destination spice atelier in New York City, and the author of Mastering Spice and The Spice Companion. His collections are sold online and in select stores.

Chocolatier, chef, innovator, “artist” and avid cyclist, Chris Kollar is the owner of Kollar Chocolates, an award-winning artisan chocolate shop located in the heart of Yountville in the Napa Valley.

He now owns and operates Danny Boy’s Famous Original Pizza, the New York-style slice joint of his childhood dreams, in Los Angeles. www.dannyboysfamousoriginalpizza.com

Jamie Oliver is a global phenomenon in food and activism. During a 20-year television and publishing career he has inspired millions of people to enjoy cooking from scratch and eating fresh, delicious food

Brooklyn-born Sherry Yard is a celebrated chef, consultant, presenter, and author who spent her extensive career making a mark as a disruptor in the hospitality industry. Her innovative approach has garnered three James Beard Awards and an induction into their Who’s Who of Food & Beverage in America.

Dr. Meg Fisher is an 11x World Champion and represented Team USA at the Rio 2016 and London 2012 Paralympic Games where she earned one gold, two silvers and bronze. She has her doctorate in physical therapy and is passionate about helping people explore and redefine their abilities.

Chef Nyesha Arrington is a California native born into a multicultural family, she is best known for her accomplishments as a chef and TV personality. Arrington has competed on Season 9 of “Top Chef” and most recently featured as a recurring judge on Chopped Next Generation. Arrington was introduced to diverse culinary experiences at an early age, which has continually shaped her palate development and perspective of culture-informed cooking.

Chef Shirley Chung A native of Beijing, she moved to the U.S. to obtain a degree in Business Management, then trained in the culinary arts at the California Culinary Academy.

Chef Shawn Naputi was born and raised on Guam. After graduating high school, he followed his passion by attending the California Culinary Academy of San Francisco.

A great conversation with a brilliant chef & great friend.

Best known for her roles on such Food Network hits as Guy’s Grocery Games, Tournament of Champions and Cutthroat Kitchen, as well as Bravo’s Top Chef and Top Chef All-Stars, Antonia Lofaso is one of America’s most beloved chefs.

Chef and Restaurateur Tiffani Faison of Sweet Cheeks Q, Fool’s Errand, Orfano, Dive Bar, Tenderoni’s and Bubble Bath, has made a name for herself nationwide for her dynamic personality, culinary prowess and fierce work ethic. Under Big Heart Hospitality, her Boston based restaurant group, she creates restaurants that are warm, inspired and instantly loveable.

Aki Kamozawa & H. Alexander Talbot are Ideas in Food, a blog, a book, and a culinary consulting business based in Plumstead, PA. They also co-own Curiosity Doughnuts, a small, artisan doughnut shop, open weekends only, in the Stockton Market across the river in Stockton, NJ.

CHEF RYAN HARDY FOUNDER/CEO/CHEF, THE DELICIOUS HOSPITALITY GROUP (NYC)CHARLIE BIRD, PASQUALE JONES, LEGACY RECORDS, ADA’S PLACE, EASY VICTOR CAFÉ, BAR PASQUALE, and MIDNIGHT PLUS ONE.

From Michelin Stars to Yellow Jerseys, Tour de France & Giro d’ Italia Chef Henrik Orre has done it all.

Maneet Chauhan is an award-winning chef, author, television personality and founding partner and president of Morph Hospitality Group in Nashville, Tennessee.

Jamie Bissonnette is the James Beard Award-winning chef and partner of Boston favorites Toro, a Barcelona-style tapas bar, and sister restaurant Coppa, an Italian enoteca, in the South End. as well as Little Doinkey in Cambridge MA and Bangkok.

When I saw Jay Rawe ski in the new film Stomping Grounds from Match stick productions I was blown away, I knew we had to speak his ability on a sit ski is mind blowing and inspiring.

From battling the legendary Masaharu Morimoto on Iron Chef America, opening Encore Hotel in Las Vegas and guiding Anthony Bourdain through many markets and restaurants, Chef Jet Tila is internationally celebrated for his culinary expertise.

Philip Speer is a brilliant chef and good friend who inspired me to find a better path. Thanks to him he inspired me to address my Mental Health issues and look in the mirror more then I wanted too. Thank You Philip for helping show me the way.

5x Olympian ( 3 summer, 2 winter)8x World Cup Winner ( both MTB and Cyclocross)2x bronze medalist at Cyclocross World ChampsMultiple Czech National Champ - MTB, CX, XCskiMultiple NCAA XC Ski ChampPresident of UCI Athletes’ CommissionVice-President of UCI20 years with Clif Pro Team Building my own program for 2022Languages: Czech and EnglishFan of Sonoma County Zinfandel

Lawson Craddock. is a 29 year old professional cyclist from Texas. I’ve been racing professionally for over 8 years and currently split my time between Texas and Girona, Spain. I am married with two kids, and enjoy spending time with my family.

Anthony has followed his passion of making Neapolitan-style pizza from moment 1. He has never wavered from this direction and in doing so he has created a cult following. This man can also tear your legs off on a bike so beware.

The level of excitement, fun and adventure that Lachlan has brought to the world of cycling is incredibaly inspiring. He has opened the door for adventure and fun all while setting his own rules racing things and setting new boundaries in the sport of cycling. Thank you Lachlan for inspiring us to go farther, have fun and showing people there is more to see on a bike.

Niche Food Group is based in St. Louis, Missouri and owned by executive chef Gerard Craft. As a Food & Wine Best New Chef, Food & Wine Innovator of the Year, 2015 James Beard Foundation Award-winning Best Chef: Midwest, and Inc. Magazine Star Entrepreneur, Chef Craft has been a pioneer for the Midwest dining scene.

I don’t even know where to start with Wylie, he has given the culinary world so much it’s unreal. I have always been in awe of his dedication to the craft and his veracious appetite for knowledge to improve on what he and everyone else is doing. I am excited to have this opportunity to talk with him about everything he has done and what he is doing.

Ty has an amazing ability to do things on Free heel skis that most people can’t even do on regular skis. The best part is when he isn’t skiing he is working hard to keep the Tahoe area safe and taken care of from a environmental standpoint. Weather fighting the forest fires or maintaining trails or recusing lost folks in the woods he is just an all around rad guy.

I have to say Michael has been a great friend and inspiration for many years, his cooking and leadership is exciting and refreshing. I do not feel like I have been in Miami if I have not had dinner at Michaels Genuine and go on a fun eating tour with Michael to the fun spots I could never find on my own.

When Dillion isn’t riding or sliding down the mountains he is constantly pushing people to look at the big picture of what they do in the world. The impact each person has on the environment that we all love to play in which in turn affects the long term of water, soil health and food production. All these things go hand in hand and Dillion is making sure we can all make better choices for the betterment of our world.