Professional Chef Instructors - Escoffier

Find Your Mentor in the Food Business

Escoffier has more than 150 professional Chef Instructors whose mission is to help you achieve your creative potential. The universe of flavors and dining experiences is infinite. Navigating this world and assisting others in the adventure is our speciality. Now it’s your turn – take the next step towards your dreams with us.

70

EXECUTIVE CHEFS

46

CURRENT OR FORMER BUSINESS OWNERS

16

WORKED IN MICHELIN STAR RESTAURANTS

19

PUBLISHED AUTHORS

The Chef Instructors are so knowledgeable and talented. I have learned so much, and I’m excited to continue this journey at Escoffier.”*

Geri Lynn Arnold

Geri Lynn Arnold Escoffier student

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ALL INSTRUCTORS

Favorite Dish: Plant-Based Fried Chik'n...

Hospitality, travel, and customer service are Ashley Godfrey’s passions! Her extensive background in resort management, with a desire to provide excellent customer service, has helped her excel in the...

Chef Adele Ledet

Favorite Dish: Gumbo

Chef Adele is the Owner and Executive Chef of Creole Vegan in Atlanta, GA, and is currently completing her first edition cookbook. She has a background in recipe development, research, product development, biology,...

Chef Albert Schmid

Favorite Dish: Shrimp Etouffee

Award-winning Chef Albert holds extensive ACF certifications. He has authored numerous books and cooked for U.S. Senators, the U.S. Surgeon General, the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, State Governors,...

Chef Alisa Gaylon

Favorite Dish: Pizza

Chef Alisa has been an Executive Chef and Owner of a Chicago restaurant, a Training Chef, and a Restaurant Consultant, among her various positions. She was published in “The Snail: The National Magazine of...

Chef Anastasia Malone

Favorite Dish: Lamb Saag Gosht

Chef Anastasia has been in the hospitality industry for over 10 years. She loves everything about pastry, and there is not one specialty she prefers, which is why she’s always been drawn to hotels and private...

Chef Angela Komis

Favorite Dish: Seafood

Chef Angela has served as a Chef Consultant, a Corporate Chef/Broker, and the Executive Producer at the Taste of St. Louis where she helps conceive, strategize, arrange, employ, promote, implement, gather, deliver,...

Chef Anne Tutuska

Favorite Dish: Sushi

Chef Anne has served as an Executive Pastry Chef, Cake Decorator, and Executive Bakery Manager. She cooked for several athletes within the Buffalo Sabres and Buffalo Bills organizations during her time at Pegula...

Chef Anthony Frazier

Favorite Dish: Beef Wellington

Chef Anthony has held every position in both front-of-house and back-of-house teams at many restaurants. He helped three restaurants develop menus, designed two cocktail menus, is a YouTuber, and is starting a food...

Chef August Ench

Favorite Dish: Fresh pasta

Chef August is the owner of Healthnut Custom Meal Preparation and has served as executive chef and sous chef for a variety of foodservice establishments. His mission is to train young chefs to reach their fullest...

Chef Bethany Schroeder

Favorite Dish: Lobster Mac N Cheese

Chef Bethany has been a personal chef and also helped a small cannabis bakery with its recipe development. She was an Exhibition Chef for the Steelcase World Headquarters in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Bethany has...

Chef Billie Sutton

Favorite Dish: Spanish Paella

Chef Billie has done food styling for such shows as Westworld, NCIS, Cool Kids, and Harrison Ford movie The Call of the Wild. She is the owner of food styling business Imagine Food Styling and specializes in...

Chef Bob Scherner

Favorite Dish: Pasta, bread, and all things...

Chef Bob Scherner has received nominations for Best Chef-Southwest in 1998 and 2002 from The James Beard House, and was invited to the “Rising Star Chef Series” at the James Beard House in 2002. He worked as a...

Chef Brian Felicella

Favorite Dish: Fried Chicken

Chef Brian is a living testament to the power of culinary education, having been refused a Pastry Chef job at one point due to his lack of a degree. He went on to earn degrees in both Pastry Arts and Culinary Arts,...

Chef Bryce Norblom

Favorite Dish: "The Butcher and the Baker"

Chef Bryce has worked in a variety of culinary roles across the nation prior to partnering with colleagues to open a nose-to-tail Butcher’s Bistro. His hands-on approach — from writing menus, testing new...

Favorite Dish: Lobster

Chef Cara brings over 20 years of experience in the pastry arts industry to the classroom. Her dream has always been to teach pastry arts. From her first month at culinary school, she knew she wanted to teach. After...

Chef Catherine Stanton

Chef Catherine’s global culinary experience includes roles as a Private Chef in Serbia, a Chateau Chef in Southwest France, and a Yacht Chef in Turkey, Greece, Italy, and Russia. Additionally, she was Head...

Chef Cathy Wawrzaszek

Favorite Dish: Filet Mignon

Chef Cathy is a Certified Pastry Culinarian® with the American Culinary Federation. She was the former owner of Starlight Pastries in Orlando, FL, a home-based bakery specializing in wedding cakes, celebration...

Chef Cesar Herrera

Favorite Dish: BBQ Ribs

While working as the Sous Chef at Pub at the Square, a fine-dining restaurant located in Woodstock, Illinois, Chef Cesar had the opportunity to cook for Bill Murray and all the actors in the movie Groundhog Day, an...

Chef Cheryl Herbert

Favorite Dish: Pho or Ramen

Chef Cheryl grew up in a restaurant family, but never considered it as her career until her mid-twenties. At this time there weren’t a lot of women in professional kitchens, but Cheryl didn’t let that phase her....

Chef Chris Scalia

Favorite Dish: Sushi

Chef Chris brings a decade of experience as an Executive Sous Chef for restaurants, hotels, and golf courses around Colorado. He has an Associate of Applied Science degree and excels in bread making. Chris is...

Chef Christopher Diehl

Favorite Dish: Any seafood

Throughout his career, Chef Christopher has held positions as Executive Chef at private clubs, restaurants, in acute healthcare services, and worked in his family-owned restaurant. After graduating with a degree in...

Chef Christopher Moore

Favorite Dish: grilled sausage with onion and...

Chef Christopher worked as an Executive Chef for the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and Head Chef do Cozihna for Vila Vita Parc Hotel in Porches, Portugal. He opened an American restaurant in the Algarve of...

Chef Clara Hernandez

Favorite Dish: Arepas and Empanadas

Chef Clara owned a baking business called Antojitos when she lived in Venezuela, and later opened a catering business with her husband called Spoonful Catering. She worked in food photography with the biggest...

Chef Clifton Dickerson

Favorite Dish: Anything that I can grill

Certified Executive Chef® Clifton Dickerson is a leader with twenty years of experience working with, coaching, and motivating students. Winner of the Escoffier Legacy Award in 2021, he is also a Certified Culinary...

Chef Cody Middleton

Favorite Dish: Mushroom Risotto

Chef Cody has served a number of domestic and international diplomats including senators, governors, and former President Donald Trump. He also had the opportunity to prepare meals for famous athletes such as Tom...

Chef Colette Christian

Favorite Dish: Macaroni and Cheese

Certified Master Baker Colette Christian is “obsessed with ingredient function, because the more we know, the better we bake.” Trained as a chef at the New England Culinary Institute in Montpelier, Vermont,...

Chef Dan Bearss

Favorite Dish: Banh Mi

Chef Dan has ten years of experience — including breakfast and butchery — spanning the restaurant, hotel, and cruise ship industries. Before working in his current role as an Escoffier Chef Instructor, Chef Dan...

Chef Dan Widmann

Favorite Dish: Thai food

Chef Dan has been Executive Pastry Chef & Owner of a bakeshop, Director of Pastry Arts, and a Pastry Sales Director. In 2016, he was awarded Educator of the Year. Dan is a member of Disciples d’Escoffier....

Chef Darren Zesch

Favorite Dish: Tacos

Chef Darren has held the roles of Executive Chef and Sous Chef and is passionate about teaching the art of food and cooking. His professional experiences range from local country clubs, restaurants, and hospitals to...

Chef Dawn M. DeStefano

Favorite Dish: Pasta e fagioli

Certified Executive Pastry Chef® Dawn M. DeStefano, a veteran of both the Marine Corps and the Army Nursing Corps, has taught Baking and Pastry to international students at the Italian Culinary Institute in...

Chef Denise Spooner

Favorite Dish: Chicken Parmesan

Pastry Chef Denise grew her skills in a busy catering company owned by Danny Meyer called Union Square Events. This is where she sharpened her skills in various aspects from laminated doughs to chocolates to petit...

Chef Doug Alley

Favorite Dish: French Onion Soup &...

Chef Doug’s entrepreneurial experience includes owning an award-winning catering and event design company and a wedding cake shop. He was the winner of Food Network’s Christmas Cookie Challenge in 2017....

Chef Eduardo Suarez

Favorite Dish: Whatever recipe I'm working on...

Chef Eduardo has worked as Executive Chef and Chef de Partie in restaurants throughout Caracas, Venezuela, and in recipe and menu development in both Caracas and Miami, Florida. Additionally, he has volunteered for...

Chef Emily Maddy

Favorite Dish: Anything smoked and/or grilled

Chef Emily has served as sous chef, chef de cuisine, pastry chef, and baker in establishments across Texas. She had the opportunity to work as a pastry chef for Micheals Genuine in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. She...

Chef Emily Pinsky

Favorite Dish: chocolate chip cookies

Chef Emily has created cake designs that have won awards in magazines such as Modern Luxury Chicago, Celebration Society, and The Knot. She has worked as Manager, Head Decorator, and Head Baker for a cake design...

Chef Eric Jenkins

Chef Eric has worked as White House Kitchen Chef, in addition to Executive Chef roles. He is an Advisory Board Member of The Culinary Institute of America’s Alumni Magazine, Mise En Place. He’s won such...

Chef Eric Scholtes

Favorite Dish: Tacos of any kind

Chef Eric Scholtes has worked for over 20 years in the culinary industry, including holding several Executive Chef positions. In past lives, he was part owner of Dream Trucks of Austin, and at one point had his own...

Chef Erin Kanagy-Loux

Favorite Dish: Pho Ga or Strawberry Rhubarb...

Chef Erin is most recognized for her work in celebration and wedding cakes and has been featured in NY Magazine Weddings. She competed in Valrhona Chocolate’s first USA-hosted C3 Competition and received the...

Chef Eugene Kwak

Favorite Dish: Kalbi - BBQ Short Ribs

Chef Eugene, an ACF Certified Culinarian, has served in roles from Line Cook to Chef De Partie to Sous Chef in such locations as Napa Valley and Aspen. He attended Rocky Mountain Chefs of Colorado, was a member of a...

Chef Gary Ackerman

Favorite Dish: Fresh gulf fish

Chef Gary is a Certified Executive Chef® (CEC®) with over three decades’ experience, which includes running Gary O’s Cafe for five years. In 2012, he helped cook for a fundraiser attended by...

Favorite Dish: Braised meat

Chef Gena has been a Head R&D Chef and Chef Consultant and won Top 10 Cheese Cakes in Los Angeles in 2016 and Top 10 Donuts in Los Angeles in 2015. A member of the Bread Bakers Guild of America, she has worked...

Chef Gregory Bonath

Favorite Dish: Maryland Crab Boil

Chef Gregory has worked as a Chef De Cuisine, an Executive Sous Chef, and a Banquet Chef in foodservice establishments around the country. He holds the WSET Level 2 Award in Wines. He was also awarded the Hotel of...

Chef Heidi Haller

Favorite Dish: Smoked pork butt

Certified Executive Chef® Heidi is the Owner and Catering Chef for Chef Heidi’s Kitchen, a personal chef service. For Les Dames d’ Escoffier, Heidi conducted a holiday cooking demo. She has served in...

Chef J.D. Forde

Favorite Dish: Whole Hog BBQ

Chef J.D. has served as an Executive Chef and works part-time with a catering company on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. He worked under a semi-finalist for Best Chef Southwest chef and owner Michael Sohocki at...

Chef Jackie Abril-Carlile

Favorite Dish: Reverse-Seared Tomahawk Ribeye

Chef Jackie is Executive Chef and Manager at North Mountain Brewing in Phoenix, Arizona, an owner of CODA Catering, and is a Silver Medalist New York State ACF Culinary Competition in 2009. Jackie was born and...

Chef Jackie Parchman

Favorite Dish: Crawfish Etouffee

Bringing her nearly 20 years of teaching experience to Escoffier, Chef Jackie is also an ACF Certified Working Pastry Chef. She’s worked as an Assistant Pastry Chef at several foodservice establishments and...

Chef Jacqueline Bruton

Favorite Dish: Pad Thai

Chef Jacqueline cooked dinner for President Gerald Ford and his wife Betty and has made several custom cakes and wedding cakes for celebrities in Palm Springs. She’s served as a Corporate Trainer & Pastry...

Chef Jason Goldman

Favorite Dish: Simple pasta dishes

Chef Jason Goldman developed a passion for food and cuisine at an early age from both domestic and international travel. He has worked in several aspects of the food industry including fine dining restaurants,...

Chef Jeff Chapman

Favorite Dish: Linguini with Clam Sauce

Chef Jeff is a 4-time VA Chili Cook-Off Champion, has owned a bagel shop and private event catering company, and has interned at the Television Food Network during its first year of operation. After completing his...

Favorite Dish: Cake Pops

Chef Jen started out her baking career being a self-taught baker, specializing in cake pops. She ran her own small business for over four years until she moved to Illinois. Customers had started asking about fancy...

Favorite Dish: Anything with shrimp

Chef Jen ran her own cottage bakery and has worked as an Executive Pastry Chef. She is a member of the American Culinary Federation. Prior to joining Escoffier, Jen was a Pastry Chef Instructor at Erie Community...

Chef Jennifer Kempin

Favorite Dish: Seared Black Sea Bass and...

Chef Jennifer has worked as an Executive Chef, a Sous Chef, a Catering Manager, and a Restaurant Manager. She catered for celebrities and professional athletes for New Year’s Eve 2016 in Rhinebeck, New York....

Chef Jennifer McClintick

Favorite Dish: Chocolate cake

Ever since her first cake from an Easy-Bake oven, Chef Jennifer McClintick has loved baking. She completed the pastry certificate program at Baltimore International Culinary College, highlighted by a 6-week course...

Chef Jerry Osuna

Favorite Dish: Mexican Seafood

Chef Jerry has worked for a former Michelin Star-awarded chef. He also worked as a Sous Chef for Sodexo in Los Angeles and a Banquet Chef and Staff Chef for a children’s hospital. Jerry enjoys the flexibility...

Chef Jesper Jonsson

Favorite Dish: Steak with frites and...

Chef Jesper, a 37-year industry veteran, has had the opportunity to work in eight Michelin star restaurants over the course of his career. He is a recipient of the Disciple d’Escoffier award and a board member of...

Chef John Percarpio

Favorite Dish: Potato Anna

Chef John has cooked for Michelin Star restaurant Palais Lenbach Otto Stasse 6 in Munchen, Germany, been an Executive Chef for country clubs and hotels, and worked in sales for Farm and Home Foods. He won Manager of...

Favorite Dish: Smoked pozole

Chef John is the owner of Firefly Grilling Co., an eccentric open-fire catering & supper club in the Fort Worth, Texas, area. He’s made guest chef appearances at multiple establishments for over 23 years,...

Chef Jordan Brown

Favorite Dish: Chicken Tikka Masala

In his culinary career of 12+ years, Chef Jordan worked as a Head Chef in restaurants around Colorado, as well as in various positions around Texas. After going to school for music, Jordan realized that his true...

Chef Joseph Celmer

Favorite Dish: Anything Beef

Chef Joseph worked at a Michelin Star restaurant, as well as an Executive Chef for for British Airways and for Windsor Golf Hotel & Resort in Nairobi, Kenya. He won Chef Choice Award in Yummy Magazine, Best...

Chef Joshua Turek

Favorite Dish: Chocolate chip zucchini cake

Certified Executive Pastry Chef® Joshua Turek worked as a Cake Decorator for Walt Disney World and in Research and Development for David’s Cookies & Annie’s Euro American Bakery. He was awarded ACF...

Chef Julia Wolfe

Favorite Dish: Bistecca alla Fiorentina

Chef Julia has worked extensively in culinary Research & Development and received 5280 Magazine’s Best New Restaurant in Denver Award while serving as Chef de Cuisine at French 250. She brings decades of...

Chef Julie Clark

Favorite Dish: Beef Stew

Chef Julie worked as Pastry Cook for Band of Bohemia in Ravenswood, Chicago, when the restaurant received its Michelin Star. She was also written up by EATER Chicago for single-handedly running a New-York-style...

Chef Kareen Linton

Favorite Dish: Roast Duck

Chef Kareen is the CEO of A Dash of Coco, LLC. She is a recipient of multiple awards, including Disciple d’Escoffier, National Cutting Edge Award #6 by American Culinary Federation (ACF), and Top 100 Leaders in...

Chef Karla Lomeli

Favorite Dish: Sushi

Chef Karla is a Certified Working Pastry Chef® (CWPC®) and has worked at a Michelin Star Koldo Royo restaurant in Mallorca, Spain. She was also awarded Chef Instructor of the Month while teaching at Le...

Chef Kathee Frings

Favorite Dish: Good Crawfish Etouffee

Chef Kathee has extensive experience in large event catering throughout Arizona and Indiana. She has been a personal chef and has experience in back-of-house roles as well.

Chef Kelly Brown

Favorite Dish: Shrimp Alfredo

Chef Kelly brings a background as an Executive Chef and Catering Manager, as well as a personal chef. Kelly is a veteran, having spent eight years in the United States Marine Corps, and has competed in the Special...

Chef Kevin Kincaid

Favorite Dish: Posole

Certified Executive Chef® Kevin Kincaid is the owner of Chef K Consulting where he consults on menus and operations. He has over 20 years of experience in the culinary industry and is passionate about education...

Chef Kevin M. Quinn

Favorite Dish: Paella

Chef Kevin completed the American Culinary Federation Master Chefs Exam in 2014 and is an ACF Certified Executive Chef®. He is also American Culinary Federation Silver Medalist – Hot Foods. Kevin managed a...

Chef Kirk Faulkner

Favorite Dish: A perfectly-grilled medium...

Chef Kirk has been fortunate to work with many great chefs and learn from each and every one of them. He rose through the ranks and found himself as the Head Chef of a location in Arizona. During his time with the...

Chef Krystal Dandie

Favorite Dish: Crab legs and old bay

Chef Krystal has been a Lead Cook, Lead Garde-Manger, General Manager, and Corporate Trainer at establishments across Maryland and Georgia. She’s been featured in Voyage ATL Magazine. Having been born in...

Chef Leigh Copeland

Favorite Dish: Fresh Ravioli with Garlic and...

Before joining Escoffier, Chef Leigh worked for 14 years as a private chef for a family in Atlanta. Prior to that, she worked as a butcher’s apprentice and as a chef in Atlanta restaurants including The Food...

Chef Lenora Murphy

Favorite Dish: Banh Mi

Chef Lenora brings a background as a Culinary & Hospitality Instructor and worked as the Prepared Foods Team Leader for Whole Foods Market. A U.S. Veteran, having served for four years in the Army, Lenora is...

Chef Luke Shaffer

Favorite Dish: I love a good tasting menu

Chef Luke was Chef’s Roll “Featured Instructor of the Month” in 2017, has worked as an executive chef, and has won Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts Legacy Award in 2020. At the feet of...

Chef Mary Catherine Woods

Favorite Dish: Any type of bread

Chef Mary Catherine has worked as a Pastry Cook, Executive Pastry Chef, and Pastry Chef Instructor in renowned hotels across Georgia, California, and Texas. She served as a Pastry Cook at Brasserie Le Coze and the...

Chef Matt Schole

Favorite Dish: Cheesecake

Chef Matt brings 18 years of experience in all facets of hospitality operations, including serving as Owner/Pastry Chef of a small business for nine years and managing food and beverage presentation in high-volume...

Chef Matthew Fairfield

Favorite Dish: Any Sushi and Sashimi

Chef Matthew was Sous Chef at Michelin Star restaurant Etoile at Domaine Chandon in Napa Valley. He has also worked as an Executive Chef and Chef de Cuisine at various restaurants, as well as in yogurt and dairy...

Chef Maurietta Amos

Favorite Dish: Mediterranean and Middle...

Chef Maurietta is a career changer who holds a degree in Business and previously worked in the field of Human Resources and Marketing. Over the course of her culinary career, she has worked in the South of France,...

Chef Maya Brown

Favorite Dish: Mole

Chef Maya has an array of industry experience, including doing research in a microbiology lab to create space food for astronauts, making Seth Rogen a pork chop, and conducting a few wine dinners with UFC fighter...

Chef McKenzie Johnson "MJ"

Favorite Dish: Pineapple Coconut Curry with...

Chef McKenzie has been an Executive Chef and a Sous Chef, as well as worked in recipe development. She also worked in sustainable cooking and growing projects for vulnerable children in Rundu, Namibia. She’s...

Chef Megan Henke

Favorite Dish: Wood-fired pizza

Chef Megan had the great experience of being able to cook with the Cibo Matto team at The James Beard House in New York and have a dessert published in Pastry Arts Magazine. She had an interest in baking from a very...

Chef Megan Irvine

Favorite Dish: Sushi

Chef Megan, an Escoffier Pastry Arts alumnus, has worked in various roles for Colorado catering companies, including Chocolatier, Cake Designer, and Executive Pastry Chef. She’s a world traveler, having...

Chef Megan Piel

Favorite Dish: Ceviche

Chef Megan is the owner of Copia Confectionery, a chocolate and confection company specializing in custom pairings with beer, cider, wine, and distilling. She is an Introductory Sommelier Certified and was awarded...

Chef Michelle Hall

Favorite Dish: Opi with garlic sauce

Pastry Chef Michelle brings over 20 years of industry experience. She was the first featured chef on Dish’n Dames. From San Francisco, CA, to Austin, TX, to Wailea, HI, Chef Michelle has served as an Executive...

Chef Miguel Olmedo

Favorite Dish: Sushi

Chef Miguel competed and won several awards in the American Culinary Federation-sponsored food shows, prepared and executed banquets of up to 8,000 people, and managed various stations from the Disneyland Hotel in...

Chef NaDean Johnson

Favorite Dish: Butternut squash ravioli with...

Chef NaDean was the Owner and Head Baker of NaDean’s Coffee & Bakery from 1999 to 2005, before selling the bakeshop to return to school to complete her education and fulfill her passion for teaching. She...

Chef Nicholas Howard

Favorite Dish: French Onion Soup

Chef Nicholas worked at Paramount Pictures in Hollywood and cooked for a lot of celebrities, including movie stars and musicians. He’s catered for thousands of people at concerts to groups as small as ten of...

Chef Nick Amato

Favorite Dish: Thai Panang Curry

After testing the waters in a desk job, Nick felt that something was lacking, and this was not the career path for him. This is when his professional culinary adventure began, which eventually led him to opening...

Chef Nicole Lourie

Favorite Dish: Tamago with Rice

Award-winning Chef Nicole studied under Chef Franck Iglesias, who was named one of the top 10 pastry chefs in America in 2016. Before joining Escoffier, she was the first and only pastry chef to work at 21c Museum...

Chef Patrick Guerra

Favorite Dish: Risotto with Asparagus and...

Certified Executive Chef® Patrick has been an Executive Chef for such prominent groups as Marriott, Omni, and Intercontinental Hotels. He currently works as a Diet Chef in a hospital in Switzerland and is a member...

Chef Paul Rocque

Favorite Dish: Ragu Bolognese over Mezze...

With over 20 years of experience in the pastry arts, Chef Paul has co-authored the book “So Sweet!” for the Sur La Table national chain of cook stores, make cakes for Steven Spielberg, Melissa Joan Hart,...

Chef Rachel Cuzzone

Favorite Dish: Homemade Pasta and Chocolate...

Chef Rachel was a bakeshop owner, a Resident Chef at Sur La Table, and an assistant to the U.S. Pastry Olympic Team in France. In 2014, she won second place at the Pastry Live Student Chocolate Challenge. Rachel...

Chef Rachel Rancourt-Hobbs

Favorite Dish: Chicken Korma

Chef Rachel brings experience as an Executive Chef, General Manager, Manager of Guest Cuisine, and Baker. Besides her culinary arts degree, she also has a Master of Business Administration with a Concentration in...

Chef Renee Moreno

Favorite Dish: Anything at the height of its...

Chef Renee has worked as a Pastry Chef and Pastry Sous Chef in a variety of San Francisco Bay-area restaurants, as well as a Research & Development Chef for such prestigious brands as Donsuemor, Williams-Sonoma,...

Chef Rich Harvey

Favorite Dish: Softshell blue crabs any way!

Chef Rich has over 25 years of experience in the food industry, including cooking for a variety of different celebrities and professional athletes. He was also a chef-owner of his own two establishments. Throughout...

Chef Richard Jensen

Favorite Dish: Lamb Vindaloo

Chef Richard worked for Michelin Star restaurant Meadowood in Napa, was the Napa Valley Mustard Festival 2009 People’s Choice Winner, and did food styling for John Ash cookbook “Culinary Birds.” ...

Chef Roberta Clare

Favorite Dish: Any great soups

Chef Roberta is a Lifetime Certified Executive Chef® with the ACF. She served two apprenticeships after graduating from Aurora University — three years in an ACF Culinary Apprenticeship and three years in a...

Chef Robyn McArthur

Favorite Dish: Gumbo

Executive Chef Robyn has assisted in achieving many awards, including five stars and five diamonds, and attended the James Beard House. She’s served as a chef de cuisine, a chef de tournade, and a food truck...

Chef Ryan Hodros

Favorite Dish: Chicken Paprikash

Chef Ryan fell in love with the culinary world while serving in the U.S. Navy as a Chinese linguist. Cooking and baking are great ways to let go of life’s worries for a short while and make something...

Chef Sarah Gunderson

Favorite Dish: Tamales

Chef Sarah has worked with 7-time nominated James Beard Chef Scott Crawford at Crawford & Son and Jolie Restaurant, both in Raleigh, NC. She currently owns and operates her own business, Sal’s of Southern...

Chef Scott Cohen

Favorite Dish: I love sushi!

Certified Executive Chef® Scott Cohen has over 40 years in the industry, has cooked at the James Beard House, and is a cookbook author. He is Executive Chef at the 4-diamond Las Canarias at Omni La Mansion del...

Chef Scott Moore

Favorite Dish: Braised meats

Chef Scott is the owner of NxtGen Foods LLC, a direct-to-consumer, ready-to-heat meal delivery service. Having worked as an Executive Chef and Banquet Chef, he is passionate about regenerative agriculture practices...

Chef Scott Shoyer

Favorite Dish: Seared Scallops and Wild...

Chef Scott has worked as an Executive Chef and Sous Chef in restaurants across Austin, Texas. While working for Chef David Bull, he accompanied the chef to the James Beard House when he was asked to cook there....

Chef Shontia Rivers M.S.

Favorite Dish: Crème Brulee

Chef Shontia brings an exciting background as a Food and Beverage Manager for various hotel brands, a Traveling Chef, and a Catering Director. She holds degrees in both the Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management....

Chef Sinead Chardon

Favorite Dish: English roast chicken dinner

Chef Sinead has been a Pastry Chef and Cook for various restaurants, bars, resorts, and conference centers around the Tampa Bay area.

Chef Sofia Forde

Favorite Dish: Ceviche

Chef Sofia has held roles as an Executive Chef, Catering Manager, and Lead Line Cook in restaurants across Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana, as well as for Hotel Mirador in Mexico. Passionate about global cuisines,...

Chef Stefanie Bishop

Favorite Dish: Sourdough with quality salted...

Chef Stefanie worked for Daniel Boulud in two of his restaurants in Vancouver, British Columbia, for the winter Olympics in 2010. Her most recent positions included Pastry Chef at the Art Institute of Chicago and...

Chef Stephanie Michalak White

Favorite Dish: Depends on the season

Chef Stephanie is a Certified Cicerone®. She has been integral in the development and launch of Escoffier’s Plant-Based Culinary Arts programs. With over a decade of professional experience, Stephanie has...

Chef Stephen Rafferty

Favorite Dish: Whatever is requested or that...

Certified Executive Chef® Stephen Rafferty is also a Level I Sommelier. He owned Yellow Submarine Catering, which catered for crowds up to 300, providing onsite cooking and service for weddings, birthdays, City...

Chef Steve Konopelski

Favorite Dish: Kouign-Amann

Award-winning Chef Steve assisted James Beard Winning Pastry Chef, Claudia Fleming, appeared on the Food Network, and had his wedding cakes featured in Martha Stewart Weddings, Brides, and The Knot. He also owned a...

Chef Steve Sabatino

Favorite Dish: Pizza

Certified Executive Chef® Steve cooked for President George W. Bush and President Bill Clinton and gave Muhammad Ali a kitchen tour at Madison Square Garden. He was Owner and Chef for the catering company The...

Chef Steven Nalls

Favorite Dish: Depends on the season and...

Chef Steven is the owner and operator of 80-acre Three Sisters Farm & Ranch in Northern Colorado devoted to sustainable food production. He attended culinary school in Pasadena, California, and had the...

Chef Susan Kaiser Yurish

Favorite Dish: duck breast

With over 20 years of industry experience, Chef Susan has served as an educator, a consultant, a Director of Catering, and a business owner. She founded Hanna’s Specialty Foods, a boutique, upscale catering...

Chef Suzanne Lasagna

Favorite Dish: Warm brownie sundae with hot...

Chef Suzanne has been an Executive Chef, Banquet and Catering Chef, Food and Beverage Director, and Front of House Server Trainer. She also worked as a Culinary Arts Program Coordinator. Suzanne is passionate about...

Chef Suzanne Prendergast

Favorite Dish: Depends on the season!

Chef Suzanne brings over 20 years of culinary industry experience in such roles as an Executive Chef, business owner, recipe tester and developer, and food writer. As an entrepreneur, she started her own catering...

Chef Tammie Barnhill

Favorite Dish: Tortilla Soup

At 4-years-old, Chef Tammie was helping her single mother with three kids cook breakfast for the boarding house she ran. She’s been cooking ever since — from being head cook in her family-owned restaurant to...

Chef Tracy DeWitt

Favorite Dish: Brownies

Chef Tracy has appeared on the popular TV show “Food Network Challenge” on 5 different occasions, walking away with two gold medals and one silver medal. She was the captain of the gold medal-winning...

Chef Tyson Holzheimer

Favorite Dish: Wagyu beef

Chef Tyson has been an Executive Chef and restaurant consultant. He also owned Butcher’s Bistro and Colorado Craft Butchers in Denver. He’s passionate about working with food and inspiring future chefs!

Chef Vicki Davenport

Favorite Dish: Sushi

Award-winning Chef Vicki made the decision to change careers and pursue her dream of becoming a Pastry Chef in 2001. Her first job was as Assistant Pastry Chef at St. Louis Country Club, training under Executive...

Favorite Dish: Breakfast tacos

Felix Lujan is an experienced education instructor bringing knowledge of budgeting, event planning, customer service, and strategy in the hospitality industry. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree focused in...

Liz Matthiesen-Jones

Favorite Dish: Cheese souffle accompanied by...

Liz Matthiesen-Jones has 30+ years’ experience in international marketing, advertising, strategic planning, and research. She’s worked in the U.S., Canada, mainland China, Hong Kong, South Korea, and the...

Favorite Dish: Anything breakfast-related

Zoe Davis loves working with adult learners because they bring so much knowledge and expertise to the classroom. She enjoys watching students draw connections between the course materials, their experiences, and...