117 — Chef Bryan Voltaggio

Bryan Voltaggio isn’t just a chef; he’s a generational talent, respected by his peers and admired by food lovers everywhere. His restaurants—Voltaggio Brothers Steakhouse, Vulcania (co-owned with his brother Michael), and Wye Oak Tavern—each tell a story of culinary mastery and savory innovation.With accolades that include being a James Beard Foundation Award finalist and starring on Top Chef (season six), Top Chef Masters (season five), and Top Chef All-Stars (season sixteen), Bryan has firmly cemented his place in the culinary world. His cookbooks, HOME and VOLT Ink (co-written with his brother Michael), showcase his talent and offer a peek into his creative process.2024 was another big year for Bryan with the debut of Wye Oak Tavern in his hometown of Frederick, MD. This new venture is all about celebrating local flavors and ingredients, reflecting the city’s growing food scene.Despite his busy career, Bryan stays grounded with his wife, Jennifer, and their three children, Thatcher, Piper, and Ever Maeve. Recently earning his pilot’s license, Bryan now enjoys exploring the country’s beauty from 15,000 feet. As he continues to innovate and push culinary boundaries, Chef Bryan Voltaggio’s impact on the food world keeps growing, driven by his passion and creativity.

Douglas Keane is the talented chef and co-owner of the renowned Michelin-starred restaurant Cyrus, in Geyserville, CA. Throughout his career, Chef Douglas Keane has been recognized and celebrated for his culinary excellence. His accolades include two Michelin stars, four stars from the San Francisco Chronicle, a James Beard Award for Best Chef Pacific, and being listed in Gourmet Magazine's Top 50 Restaurants in America, among many others.

Lee Anne Wong is the chef and owner of Koko Head Cafe in Honolulu, Hawaii. In March of 2019, Wong moved to Maui with her partner and one year old son. She also participated in Season 17 of Bravo’s Top Chef All Stars, filmed in Los Angeles and Northern Italy. Chef Wong’s Maui project, Papa’aina at the Pioneer Inn, located in historic Old Lahaina at the Harbor, showcased her culinary travels while featuring local, Maui grown and raised ingredients, and she was nominated as a semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation Outstanding Chef Pacific Northwest 2022. Papa’aina received local recognition and awards for Best Breakfast and Best New Restaurant during its lifespan. In August of 2023, Papa’aina perished in the Maui fires. Chef Wong participated in the Maui recovery efforts despite losing her own restaurant and continues to advocate for Maui and the small business community in Hawaii. Forging ahead, Chef Wong opened two Japan outposts of Koko Head Cafe; Tokyo in April 2023 and Osaka in September 2024. Koko Head Cafe recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary, with Chef Wong planning a KHC Brunch Cookbook and continuing efforts to expand the brand locally. She continues to appear on various media platforms, most recently competing on Food Network’s Tournament of Champions, Seasons 4, 5, & 6 and looks forward to working on exciting new projects to expand her brand and culinary expertise.

Chef Jonny Black is the Co-owner and Executive Chef at Chez Noir, in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA. Follow Chris⁠⁠Follow Jonny

The culinary heart of Chef Timon Balloo’s food draws from a broad range of international flavors. From his Chinese, Indian-Trinidadian heritage to his classic European training, to the diverse kitchens where he built his career, each step along the way has led Balloo to become the chef he is today. 

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Dale Talde is the host and producer of Tastemade’s All Up In My Grill, the Executive Chef/Owner of Goosefeather at the Tarrytown House Estate in New York (which was named one of Esquire’s Best New Restaurants in America in 2020), and Talde Noodle and Dumpling in LaGuardia Airport’s newly renovated Terminal B Headhouse, both of which he operates under his full-service hospitality consulting firm, Food Crush Hospitality, that he co-founded with his wife Agnes. His latest project is the opening of Tigress, an open-air rooftop Cantonese steakhouse, in the brand new The Perry Hotel in Naples, FL. Dale was named a semifinalist for the 2022 James Beard Awards in the “Best Chef: New York State” category, and he is the author of the Asian-American cookbook, which was released in 2015.

⁠Justin Cogley⁠ is the Executive Chef/Partner of Aubergine at L’Auberge Carmel in Carmel-by-the-Sea. As Executive Chef he oversees Aubergine and all of L’Auberge Carmel’s culinary programs. Cogley comes to Carmel by way of Chicago, Illinois, where he was instrumental in opening the Elysian Hotel’s new kitchen as Executive Sous Chef. He previously worked at Charlie Trotter’s critically acclaimed restaurant for four years, claiming the position of Chef de Cuisine for the last two. Prior to his career as a chef, Cogley was a professional international figure skater performing with “Disney on Ice.”

In the heart of Anaheim, California, Chef Michael Reed, a culinary virtuoso with two decades of experience and a James Beard Best Chef West nominee, and his partner Kwini Reed, a Southern California native with a passion for culinary excellence, an eye for aesthetics, and a talent for curating experiences, have joined forces to create an extraordinary culinary experience at Poppy & Seed.

As a chef, restaurateur, and cookbook author, Marco Canora promotes delicious, simple, and healthful food. In 2003, he opened Hearth in Manhattan's East Village, earning a strong local following and critical acclaim for his seasonal, Italian-inflected cooking. Hearth has a positive two-star review from The New York Times and a prestigious “Outstanding Restaurant" nomination from the James Beard Foundation and in 2017 Marco won the James Beard Foundation award for Best Chef NYC. Marco is also the founder of Brodo, a popular to-go window serving coffee cups of hot, nourishing bone broths.