Host Chef - Abdellah Aguenaou

Just like many of his colleagues, Abdellah Aguenaou, executive chef at Washington's The Renaissance Mayflower hotel, started cooking as a youngster. But unlike most, he actually started working with his father in the family restaurant in Rabat, Morocco, his native city.

"I cooked, and in the early morning, I would do the shopping and go to local farms," he says. So not only did he MORE..

Celebrity Chef - Richard Blais

Richard Blais has covered a lot of ground in his rise to prominence. He began his culinary career the way a lot of teenagers do, as the "poissonier" at McDonald's. It was here where he first dabbled in deconstruction in cuisine; serving the filet-o-fish sandwiches with no top buns.

Mr. Blais attended the Culinary Institute of America (AA'98) in Hyde Park, New York. He nurtured a growing passion for . MORE..

Celebrity Pastry Chef - Geoffrey Blount

Geoffrey Blount, CEPC, CC, heads up the Baking & Pastry Arts (BPA) program on the Harris Campus. He graduated from CPCC in 1995 after earning an AAS degree in Culinary Arts. Chef Blount also attended the French Pastry School in Chicago. A member of the American Culinary Federation (ACF) and the 2009 Charlotte Chef of the Year, Geoff has earned numerous awards including Best Pastry Shop-2005 & 2006, Top Ten Charlotte Chefs-2004 and his dessert creations were featured at both the 2004 and 2005 James Beard Dinners. MORE..

Celebrity Chef - Frank Bonanno

Frank Bonanno shaves a rich dark truffle over a crackling egg and the look on his face can be summed up in a single word: passion. Bonanno lovingly plates his simple creation and explains, "I have a good life. It's not really fashionable to say I had a great childhood, but I did, and most of who I am today comes from food experiences I had from a very early age." The aroma of fresh pastries and pastas from his Italian grandmother permeated the Bonanno's New Jersey home. MORE..

Host Celebrity Chef - Gene Briggs

Blue Restaurant & Bar Executive Chef Gene Briggs has created a multi-cultural menu that features dishes from Spain, France, Greece, Sicily, Italy, and Morocco. With more than 25 years of experience working in a variety of restaurants, the upstate New York native's cooking mantra is simple: fresh. Chef Briggs incorporates fresh ingredients with fresh hand-selected cuts of meat creating exceptional food and a phenomenal dining MORE..

Celebrity Chef - Jennifer Carroll

Jennifer Carroll is the celebrated chef de cuisine of the award winning 10 Arts Bistro & Lounge by Eric Ripert in Philadelphia, Pa. Carroll is also well-known for starring on Bravo's Emmy and James Beard Award winning television show Top Chef. She was a finalist and fan favorite on the sixth season of the popular series.

Born and raised in the Somerton section of Northeast Philadelphia, Carroll's notion of meals consisted of protein, starch and canned vegatables. MORE..

Host Celebrity Chef - Greg Carso

Greg Carso, executive chef at the Metropolitan Club in Chicago, says that his Italian background, his interest in food, and the joy he found working with his hands and creating all were factors in his decision to become a chef. He first pursued his culinary dreams by attending Chicago's Washburne Trade School and later La Varenne Ecole de Cuisine in Paris. Greg went on to work with the Levy Restaurants organization, an off-premise catering company, MORE..

Celebrity Chef - Lynn Crawford

Lynn Crawford has a 26 year history of extensive culinary experience. Chef Crawford has traveled throughout Canada and the United States and gained her culinary strength and knowledge by surrounding herself with world renowned Chefs working at top destination restaurants and hotels.

Chef Crawford has received tremendous media attention as the Executive Chef of the Four Seasons MORE..

Celebrity Chef - Radhika Desai

Radhika Desai was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. As a first generation Indian in America she grew up around diversity and culture. Her parents were her true inspiration for becoming a chef. She bonded with her family over food. She graduated from The Ohio State University in 2003 with a degree in Environmental Sciences and worked as a park ranger in Death Valley National Park for one year, all the while cooking in her desert trailer. After that year, she decided that cooking was her MORE..

Celebrity Chef - Kenny Gilbert

Kenny recently moved to Palm Beach Gardens, FL, where he is now the Executive Chef of PGA Resort and Hotel. He is also the President/Owner of Passionate Culinary Enterprises. His cuisine ranges from American Regional, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Italian, Middle Eastern, Indian, Native American, Moroccan, and African. MORE..

Celebrity Chef - Kevin Gillespie

Chef Kevin Gillespie's true passion lies in serving his customers quality food every day. This enthusiasm means incorporating the use of fresh, organic and sustainable ingredients in all of his dishes. His goals as executive chef and partner of Woodfire Grill are to increase the usage of local products, make seasonal dishes more exciting, and create a youthful atmosphere at the restaurant.

Gillespie, an Atlanta native, began his culinary MORE..

Celebrity Chef - Michael Ginor

Michael Aeyal Ginor is co-founder and Chef of Hudson Valley Foie Gras, the most comprehensive Foie Gras producer in the world. Michael, with his partner Izzy Yanay, modernized the ancient delicacy known to Pharos and kings by utilizing the hi-tech and scientifically advanced production techniques of the twentieth century. Production is now a unified, controlled and consistent operation based on nature, nurture, and technology. MORE..

Host Chef - Seth Greenburg

Since beginning his career at age 17, Chef Seth Greenburg's experience and background have ranged from classical French to progressive American and modern gastronomy. Most recently, Chef Greenburg partnered with successful restaurateur Nancy Silverton to launch the popular Long Beach, California establishment, Biggs Restaurant, where he implemented a creative and upscale tapas menu. MORE..

Celebrity Chef - Koren Grieveson

Chef de Cuisine Koren Grieveson developed her singular style and meticulous palate during a five-year partnership with Executive Chef Paul Kahan at Blackbird restaurant, where she served as Sous Chef from 1998 until 2003. Working with the collaborative chef, Grieveson was part of the team that launched Blackbird onto the world stage, earning the restaurant accolades for its extraordinary cuisine.

Born in South Africa, Grieveson's family moved to Angola, MORE..

Celebrity Chef - Carla Hall

Carla Hall, fun, outgoing and a lover of the arts, is a native of Nashville, TN. She is a graduate of Howard University's Business School with a degree in Accounting. After spending two years at Price Waterhouse and acquiring a C.P.A. certificate, she shifted gears and moved overseas to seek the runway lights in Paris and Milan, then later London. Socialization primarily taking place in the kitchens throughout Europe, Carla quickly fell in love with the art of food. MORE..

Celebrity Chef - Ryan Hardy

Uley's Cabin takes it's name from local historical figure / bootlegger Uley Scheer. Uley Scheer's major claims to fame as a provider of food and moonshine are the inspiration for the dining and entertainment Uley's Cabin.

Far from the burly, sometimes grubby mountain man image that so many of his generation sported, he was known as MORE..

Celebrity Chef - CJ Jacobson

Chris Jacobson, better known as CJ, made it to the final five from the original 15 contestants on the recently concluded season of Bravo's "Top Chef." "CJ" is a 31-year old private chef from El Toro California who currently resides in Venice Beach, California. He has worked for renowned clients such as author and columnist, Arianna Hufflington, as well as the Marciano family of the Guess Corporation.

A towering 6'8", CJ is a former volleyball player who MORE..

Host Chef - Eric Jaeger

Chef Eric Jaeger was born and raised in Colorado. He trained in Denver restaurants working for many of the top chefs in Colorado, and spent a few years working as a sous chef at two of the top jazz clubs. Then he moved to Telluride to take a sous chef position for the resort. He spent four years working there perfecting his trade before taking the Executive Chef position in Crested Butte for the Conference Center. MORE..

Host Chef - Jonathan Jerusalmy

Executive Jonathan Jerusalmy brings 16 years of distinguished experience to his role as Executive Chef at The St. Regis Atlanta, including a recent tenure with The St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach, California's only five-star, five-diamond resort.

Prior to joining St. Regis, Jerusalmy served as the Executive Banquet Chef and Executive Sous Chef at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel in Florida, MORE..

Celebrity Chef - Aki Kamozawa

Aki Kamozawa and H. Alexander Talbot are the owners of Ideas in Food, LLC, a consulting business based in Levittown, PA. They met in the kitchen at Clio in Boston in 1997 and have been cooking together ever since.

Aki and Alex specialize in sharing techniques for creativity with restaurants, food service companies, and home kitchens using modern ingredients, equipment, and innovative approaches to food. MORE..

Celebrity Chef - Douglas Keane

A Michigan native, Chef Douglas Keane attended the prestigious Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration. Keane's culinary career began at The Four Seasons, the seminal three-star restaurant in the Seagram's Tower. Under the tutelage of Chef Christian "Hitsch" Albin, Keane received his first glimpse of the bounty of pristine products and luxury items available to chefs at fine dining restaurants and learned to handle them with respect. MORE..

Celebrity Chef - Lora Kirk

Lora Kirk is regarded as one of Canada's leading chefs who has 14 years of international culinary experience. While growing up in Peterborough, Ontario, Lora was greatly influenced by working on her grandparent's farm and it was there that Lora learnt the importance of supporting local farmers and growers. She then set out to pursue her dream of becoming a professional chef. Chef Kirk graduated from Algonquin College's culinary MORE..

Celebrity Chef - Eli Kirshtein

Eli Kirshtein is Executive Chef at one of Atlanta's most recognizable and elegant eateries: Eno Restaurant and Wine Bar. Eli from "Top Chef 6: Las Vegas" was born in Atlanta and trained in classic French and modern American cuisines. Eli Kirshtein follows a simple cooking philosophy of using the best ingredients in the most fitting techniques. While previously training and working in several restaurants with varying styles, Eli Kirshtein from "Top Chef 6: Las Vegas" has cultivated his own unique cooking technique. MORE..

Celebrity Chef - Susur Lee

One might suspect that internationally acclaimed Chef Susur Lee was born with a spoon in his mouth- but that would be a tasting spoon, not a silver one. From his inauspicious beginnings as a 15-year-old apprentice at Hong Kong's swell-egant hotels, to his current Atlas's stride atop the fickle universe of celebrity chef-dom, Susur Lee has never deviated from a consuming passion: to explore beyond the horizons of received culinary knowledge, and to create unique, sublime compositions for the MORE..

Celebrity Chef - Kelly Liken

Graduating first in her class at the Culinary Institute of America, Kelly is one of the country's most promising female chefs. In 2008, she was featured in Bon Appetit's "Women Chefs: The Next Generation" and was a 2009 and 2010 James Beard Semi-Finalist for Best Chef Southwest. MORE..

Host Celebrity Chef - Beau MacMillan

As Executive Chef of Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain and its signature restaurant, elements, Beau MacMillan inspires his staff with his passion for fresh ingredients. His ingenuity in the kitchen is stimulated by his belief that food should not be overworked, but rather appreciated for its simplicity and natural perfection. This philosophy is evident in Chef MacMillan's innovative seasonal menus that focus on fresh, MORE..

Celebrity Host Chef - Tony Maws

Tony Maws is a non-traditional chef – an "idealist with a kitchen" might be a more appropriate job description. His ideology: that local, seasonal and sustainably sourced ingredients are intrinsically better, and that these ingredients form the most significant part of what makes great food great.

His resolute commitment to these tenets may have made Tony something of a pioneer in the "locavore" movement and in "Nose to Tail" cooking, MORE..

Host Celebrity Chef - Tim McKee

When you've opened up four of the most well received restaurants in the Twin Cities (La Belle Vie, Solera)  you would think you have had enough. Tim McKee thought so too. In the last year he won the James Beard Award for the best chef in the Midwest and had just opened his two newest restaurants, Smalley's Caribbean BBQ and Barrio. But then Cue, the Guthrie's original restaurant, closed and the prime restaurant space in Twin Cities was ripe for the picking. MORE..

Host Celebrity Chef - Jeff Michaud

The Executive chef/owner of Osteria Restaurant and Amis Restaurant, began his cooking career at the age of 13 in a pizza shop in New Hampshire, where he was raised. Inspired by the cooking and beautiful wedding cakes made by his grandmother Jeff attended the Culinary Institute of America and graduated in 1998.

Upon graduation, Jeff moved to Aspen, Co to join the kitchen staff at the Caribou Club, where he MORE..

Celebrity Chef - Bruce Moffett

Chef Bruce Moffett grew up in the small town of Barrington, Rhode Island. Graduating with a Political Science degree from University of Rhode Island, he worked for 6 years in Washington, DC for US Senator John Chafee and various trade organizations.

In 1992, Bruce opened a small Pizza restaurant in Charlotte, NC. MORE..

Celebrity Chef - Rick Moonen

An advocate for sustainable fishing and seafood, Rick Moonen‚s passion for conservation has led him to national acclaim.  A native New Yorker, Moonen graduated first in his class from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York in 1978.  He apprenticed at L‚Hostellerie Bressane in Hillsdale, New York where he built both his confidence and experience working side by side with Chef Jean Morel. MORE..

Host Chef - Shaena Muldoon

Shaena Muldoon grew up in Pembroke, Virginia just two miles from the site of her new restaurant. She remembers visiting Pyne's General Store as a little girl with her family. Shaena has been in the restaurant and event businesses for over 20 years. Her extensive experience includes producing high-profile worldwide events such as the award-winning 2004 International VSA Arts Festival in Washington, D.C., the 2002 U.S. Olympic Torch Relay and the 1998 World Exposition in Lisbon, Portugal. MORE..

Celebrity Chef - Jeffrey Nimer

"I have always felt it is critical to be a miles ahead of the latest trends, offer a diverse, inspired and scrumptious menu combined with exquisite service" - Jeffrey Nimer. Nimer is a third generation culinarian. Growing up he watched his grandfather serve up some of the best comfort food in Miami at his local eatery. His father was a seasoned sommelier and prominent importer/exporter of wine. He spent many precious childhood moments savoring MORE..

Host Celebrity Chef - Ben Pollinger

Ben Pollinger, Executive Chef at Oceana Restaurant, has a unique cooking style that artfully blends the freshest seafood with the finest ingredients from a global pantry. Sensitive to the seasons, and with a preference for buying local, he has received critical acclaim first in July 2008 when Oceana was awarded three stars in the New York Times, and again in October that year when Oceana was awarded a Michelin star for the second year in a row. MORE..

Celebrity Pastry Chef - Alain Roby

Alain's work has been seen all over the world, as The Guinness Book of World Records awarded Chef Roby the World's Tallest Cooked Sugar Building and World's Tallest Chocolate Sculpture. His award-winning cooked sugar building was 12 feet 10 inches tall and chocolate sculpture was 20 feet 8 inches tall. These creations took his world visibility to new heights. Chef Roby is the only pastry chef to hold two Guinness World Records. MORE..

Celebrity Chef - Hosea Rosenberg

Hosea Rosenberg, originally from Taos, New Mexico, was always good at math. After graduating 3rd in his class at Taos High School, he moved to Boulder, CO to study at the University of Colorado. His dream was to be an astronomer. During his years as a Colorado Buffalo, Hosea worked in local kitchens to pay his way through school. In 1997, he was awarded a Bachelors of Science in Engineering Physics. MORE..

Celebrity Chef - Richard Sandoval

Born in Mexico City, Mexico, Richard Sandoval grew up surrounded by Mexican culture and food. His father, a successful restaurateur, instilled in him a passion for the cuisine of his heritage and the art of hospitality. From the age of 12, Richard worked in his father's highly regarded restaurants Madeiras and Villa Fiore restaurants, confirming his desire to be a chef. MORE..

Celebrity Chef - Marcus Samuelsson

At the age of 38, Marcus Samuelsson has received more accolades than many chefs receive in a lifetime. A graduate of the Culinary Institute in Gothenburg, Samuelsson apprenticed in Switzerland, Austria, France and the U.S. In 1995 he was hired as Aquavit's Executive Chef. Just 3 months later, Aquavit received a three-star review from The New York Times. Samuelsson was honored with the James Beard Foundation Award for 'Rising Star Chef' in 1999 and 'Best Chef, New York' in 2003. MORE..

Celebrity Chef - White House Chef - Walter Scheib

Walter Scheib has quite a story to tell. In fact, he has two stories to tell. The first involves the rise of an American chef to the most storied position in the land. The second offers an intimate, human view of two First Families, the corridors of political power, international personalities, and the most famous building in the United States, from a unique vantage point: The kitchen.

In April 1994, after a lengthy application and screening process, MORE..

Celebrity Chef - Michael Schlow

Michael Schlow – Executive Chef and Owner of Radius, Via Matta and Alta Strada restaurants – is recognized as one of the leading chefs in the United States. Since moving to Boston from New York City in 1995, Schlow has been at the culinary forefront, helping define and shape the city's restaurant landscape.

He opened his first restaurant, Radius, in January 1999 and succeeded in creating what many call the "Best Restaurant" in Boston. MORE..

Celebrity Chef - Alex Seidel

Alex Seidel, now Chef/Owner of Fruition Restaurant, began his career in the kitchen at age 14 in his home state of Wisconsin. From there, he quickly moved from the line to Sous Chef of Main Street Bistro by age 20. Inspired by food at a young age, Seidel studied at Western Culinary Institute in Portland, Oregon, graduating at the top of his class. After graduation, he wanted to move to the California coast and work with the best chefs, local produce, and bounties from the nearby waters. MORE..

Celebrity Chef - Matt Selby

Matt Selby is the community driven chef behind the critically acclaimed restaurants Vesta Dipping Grill and Steuben's Food Service in Denver, Colorado. One of Denver's few native chefs, Chef Selby has been at the helm at Vesta since 1997. Over the past ten years, Vesta has consistently been named one of Denver's "Ten Best Restaurants" helping to launch Matty's reputation as one of Denver's top chefs while he was still in his twenties. MORE..

Celebrity Chef - Eric Skokan

Born in San Diego, California and raised in Virginia, Eric Skokan studied history at the University of Virginia. While moonlighting at the award-winning Silver Thatch Inn in the Virginia Countryside, he quickly realized that he preferred the cookbook to the textbook. After graduation he moved around the country working in some of the best restaurant kitchens, until 2006 when he opened Black Cat Farm Table Bistro in Boulder. blackcatboulder.com MORE..

Celebrity Chef - Holly Smith

Holly Smith grew up in Monkton, Maryland in a food loving family. Holly studied political science at both Colby College and Washington College later attending the Baltimore International Culinary College.  Holly completed an externship in Ireland with Master Chef Peter Timmins while at BICC.

In 1993 Holly moved to Seattle and accepted a position MORE..

Celebrity Chef - Shannon Swindle

Pastry Chef Shannon Swindle credits his family of adventurous foodies and Chez Panisse's Alice Waters with inspiring his passion for the kitchen. His career as a pastry chef is a very unlikely one, given Swindle's type 1 diabetes, but out of necessity he discovered a talent: creating desserts that are focused on the natural sweetness of high-quality seasonal ingredients.

Intrigued by the restaurant industry but with no formal training, MORE..

Celebrity Chef - H. Alexander Talbot

H. Alexander Talbot and Aki Kamozawa are the owners of Ideas in Food, LLC, a consulting business based in Levittown, PA. They met in the kitchen at Clio in Boston in 1997 and have been cooking together ever since.

Aki and Alex specialize in sharing techniques for creativity with restaurants, food service companies, and home kitchens using modern ingredients, equipment, and innovative approaches to food. MORE..

Celebrity Chef - Michael Tusk

Michael Tusk is the renowned chef and owner of Quince, one of San Francisco's most critically acclaimed restaurants. At Quince, Michael draws inspiration for his Italian influenced cuisine from exceptional locally- sourced and seasonal ingredients found throughout Northern California.

A native of New Jersey, Michael developed a profound curiosity about food at a very young age. MORE..

Celebrity Chef - Jonathan Waxman

ombining his "less is more" philosophy with fresh, seasonal ingredients, Jonathan Waxman has influenced the U.S. culinary world for the past thirty-years working alongside and training many of today's most notable chefs.

Jonathan Waxman first stepped into the culinary scene in 1970 when he decided to retire from his career as a professional trombonist to enroll in the La Varenne cooking school in Paris. MORE..

Celebrity Chef - Cathy Whims

It’s not the awards or the notoriety that fuels the fire for Chef/Restaurateur Cathy Whims.  It’s the quest to offer historically-based, authentic dishes that celebrate a sense of place and a local producer’s passion that keep this beloved Portland culinary treasure at the stove.

She and her partner, David West, opened Nostrana in 2005 MORE..

Celebrity Chef - Jason Wilson

Chef Jason Wilson remains true to his ideals: preparing the finest local, organic ingredients in a manner befitting the title Modern Northwest Cuisine. A graduate of the esteemed California Culinary Academy, Chef Jason Wilson assisted in kitchens as far afield as France, California and Singapore.

He considers the kitchens of Flying Saucer, Aqua and Stars his main influences. In 2006, Jason was MORE..