Philadelphia 2025
Speakers

American chef, television personality, and author of “Ghana to the World: Recipes and Stories That Look Forward While Honoring the Past”

The New York Times

Executive Chef and Partner of Anju

Executive Chef at Blanca

MPN Realty, Principal

Restaurant Editor, Food & Wine Magazine

Chef and the co-founder of Asheville, North Carolina's beloved Cúrate

James Beard Award-winning food writer and columnist for The Washington Post

Food & Wine’s “Best New Chefs” 2022 and went on to become a 2023 finalist for the James Beard Foundation’s “Best Chef: South” Award

Chef and owner of Crafted Hospitality and head judge and executive producer of the Emmy-winning Bravo hit series, Top Chef

Chief Relief Officer for World Central Kitchen

Chef owner Compere Lapin, Babs Nola, Nina’s Creole Cottage

Now Serving bookstore

Director of Noma Projects

Columnist for The New York Times Magazine’s Eat Column

Chef and founder of Hiraya and Kayu

Founder and Principal, Friend of Chef (FOC)

James Beard award-winning author

Beverage director and co-owner of Birdie’s

The Chefs’ Warehouse, Business Development Manager

Shy Bird co-owner and puhlisher of Elided Opinions

Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association, SVP – Strategy and Engagement

Chef & Creative Director

Journalist and 2 time James Beard award-winner

VP, Strategic Partnerships & Industry Development

Esquire

The dining and restaurant critic at the Detroit Free Press

The Los Angeles Times

Founding Partner & Chairman of Helbraun & Levey

CEO of Rustic Canyon Restaurant Group

Chef of Research & Production

Head of Finance + Analytics, Oyster Sunday & OS BENEFiTS

Editor in Chief of Food & Wine

Lead Bartender, Lovers Bar at Friday Saturday Sunday

Senior Reporter for Eater

Three-time James Beard journalism award-winner, a seven-time finalist, and a frequent selectee for the Best Food Writing anthology

Co-Proprietor of Commander’s Palace

Editor, Award-Winning Author

Unapologetic Foods

Author of FOR THE CULTURE: PHENOMENAL BLACK WOMEN AND FEMMES IN FOOD

Executive Chef of Animae and Le Coq is San Diego's first-ever James Beard Award finalist

Chef and owner of Casamata

Founder of the Indigo Road Hospitality Group

Chef/Owners of Atomix

Chef Owner at Tâm Tâm

Partners behind Claud and Penny in New York City’s East Village

CEO of James Beard Foundation

Editor in Chief of Bon Appetit

Staff writer at The New Yorker

Chef and partner of the Michelin-starred Oyster Oyster in Washington, DC and the recipient of the 2023 James Beard Award for Outstanding Chef in America

Pennsylvania State Senator

Author of “Cellar Rat: My Life in the Restaurant Underbelly”

Founding Director, Southern Smoke Foundation

Chef/Owner of Attica (Melbourne)

Co-founder of Libbie Loup Hospitality and executive chef of Her Place Supper Club

Founder and owner of Saltie Girl

Writer about cocktails, spirits, bars, and bartenders for The New York Times and is the creator and author of the Substack newsletter The Mix With Robert Simonson

James Beard Award–winning chef, cookbook author, and raconteur

Chef of the trailblazing Philadelphia restaurant Zahav, and co-owner of CookNSolo Restaurants (Federal Donuts, Dizengoff, Goldie, K'Far, Laser Wolf, and Lilah)

Restaurant editor at Bon Appetit

Author and journalist

Philadelphia-based freelance writer and co-founder of Saltete, a travel guide publishing platform

Senior Editor at Eater

Culinary Producer of “The Bear”

Chef/Owner of Kalaya, JBF Winner Best Chef Mid-Atlantic 2023

Chef/Owner of Dame, Lord's and Crevette, Food & Wine Best New Chef 2023

Author of “Watermelon and Red Birds: A Cookbook for Juneteenth and Black Celebrations”

Founder + CEO, Oyster Sunday & OS BENEFiTS

Co-owner and the General Manager & Wine Director of Lasita

Chef & Owner, Vernick Restaurants

Chef/Owner of VB Gruppo

Beverage director of Meadowlark Hospitality

2024 James Beard Award (JBF) for Outstanding Restaurateurs

Chef/Owner of Friday Saturday Sunday, Friday Saturday Sunday won the award for “Outstanding Restaurant” from the James Beard Foundation in 2023

Chef & Owner, Virtue Restaurant, Daisy's P-Boy & Tavern, Mustard Seed Kitchen, Top This Mac and Cheese

NYT Cooking, The New York Times

Author of “Care and Feeding: A Memoir”

Editor-in-chief of Eater

Emmy-winning and four-time James Beard Award-winning TV personality, chef, writer and social justice advocate