Chef Nini Nguyen

An early pioneer of seasonally driven fine dining, Chef Ken Frank has been in relentless pursuit of deliciousness since his teenage years living in France. At just 23, Ken opened the first La Toque on the Sunset Strip, Today, Chef Ken Frank continues to lead La Toque in Napa Valley with the same curiosity and passion that sparked his career, blending classic French foundations with modern creativity. His cuisine remains rooted in seasonality, guided by craftsmanship, and dedicated to the simple pursuit of joy at the table.

Based in New Orleans, Nini Nguyen is a chef and cookbook author known for blending her Vietnamese heritage with Louisiana flavors. She began her culinary journey in some of the country’s most innovative kitchens, including Eleven Madison Park in New York, before stepping into the spotlight on Top Chef Season 16 and Top Chef: All-Stars Los Angeles, where she earned a dedicated fan following.

lan Hall rose to national attention as the winner of Top Chef and went on to host and executive produce shows like Knife Fight and Food to Get You Laid, captivating audiences with his bold point of view and infectious energy. His culinary legacy lives on through his groundbreaking restaurants—The Gorbals in Los Angeles and Brooklyn, Esh, and Ramen Hood at LA’s Grand Central Market—each celebrated for pushing boundaries while fostering a deep sense of community.

Amanda Shulman, Co-owner of Libbie Loup Hospitality and Executive Chef of Her Place Supper Club a not-restaurant dinner party restaurant with 24 seats, 2 seatings a night, sometimes four days a week. The multi-course menu is a blend of French, Italian, and American Jewish cuisines, with shared and individually plated dishes changing from top to bottom every three weeks. In 2023, Amanda opened the restaurant My Loup with her husband and the chef of the restaurant, Alex Kemp, and co-founded their restaurant group, Libbie Loup Hospitality.

Marc Vetri is the chef and founder of Philadelphia’s acclaimed Vetri Cucina. A Philadelphia native, he opened the storied restaurant in 1998 with partner Jeff Benjamin. Marc’s restaurant group has since expanded nationally and internationally. In 2020, he opened Fiorella, a pasta-focused bar in Philadelphia’s Italian Market; Mr. Maurice’s Italian at Ace Hotel Kyoto in Japan, honoring his grandfather Maurice Rotenberg; and Osteria Fiorella at Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa in Las Vegas, which transitioned from a pop-up into a permanent fixture. In 2022, Marc debuted Pizzeria Salvy in Philadelphia’s Xfinity Mobile Arena, later opening a flagship location in the Comcast Technology Center in 2023, celebrating his father Sal’s legacy with perfected pizzas, signature meatballs, and classic Italian fare. Most recently, Marc launched Fiorella Las Vegas at Durango Casino and Resort in December 2023, bringing the beloved pasta bar to the West Coast. 

Chef Alex Kemp is the chef/partner of My Loup in Philadelphia with his wife Chef Amanda Shulman. The menu is influenced by their collective cooking experiences over the past six years, resulting in a mix of French inspired market cuisine with an emphasis on freshness.. The menu is French Canadian with a lighter touch.

Chef Peter Cho is the chef and co-owner of Han Oak and Jeju in Portland, Oregon. His cooking draws from his Korean heritage, and his formative years in New York kitchens, a commitment to honest, ingredient-driven food rooted in community and family.

Brad Mathews  is the Executive Chef and Co-Owner of ⁠Bar Le Côte⁠ in Los Olivos, California.Born in Ithaca and raised in Watkins Glen, New York, Brad’s earliest memories of hyper-local cuisine come from a childhood spent hunting, fishing, and foraging along the Finger Lakes. By fourteen, he was already cooking in small, family-run restaurants with a focus on seasonal, from-scratch food.In 2009, he moved to Los Angeles, working his way up from Cook to Executive Sous at Bar Pintxo under Chef Joe Miller(Joe's/Bar Pintxo.He later joined the team at Cadet in Santa Monica, before spending several years under David LeFevre as Executive Sous Chef at Fishing with Dynamite and The Arthur J. In 2018, Brad deepened his focus on sustainable seafood by joining Morro Bay Oyster Company as R&D Chef and VP of Sales. At Bar Le Côte, which opened in 2021, he leads a talented team of cooks with a shared love of coastal cooking. His soulful, seafood-forward dishes have earned widespread attention, including his savory caviar cheesecake, named one of the LA Times’ Best Bites of 2024.

ANDY RICKER worked in restaurants, fields, factories, shops and construction sites all over the world before opening his first restaurant, Pok Pok, in Portland, Oregon, USA in 2005. He has since gone on to open and close several other restaurants of a similar ilk in Portland, Los Angeles, Ls Vegas and New York City and is the founder and managing director of Som beverage company. A two time James Beard Award winner and a once upon a time holder of a Michelin star for Pok Pok Ny in Brooklyn, NY, Andy lives in Chiang Mai, Thailand with his wife and partner Kung and their six cats. He is also the author of three cookbooks, Pok Pok: Food and Stories from the Streets, Homes and Roadside Restaurants of Thailand, Pok Pok: The Drinking Food of Thailand, and Pok Pok: Noodles.   

Andy Ricker worked in restaurants, fields, factories, shops and construction sites all over the world before opening his first restaurant, Pok Pok, in Portland, Oregon, USA in 2005. He has since gone on to open and close several other restaurants of a similar ilk in Portland, Los Angeles, Ls Vegas and New York City and is the founder and managing director of Som beverage company. A two time James Beard Award winner and a once upon a time holder of a Michelin star for Pok Pok Ny in Brooklyn, NY, Andy lives in Chiang Mai, Thailand with his wife and partner Kung and their six cats. He is also the author of three cookbooks, Pok Pok: Food and Stories from the Streets, Homes and Roadside Restaurants of Thailand, Pok Pok: The Drinking Food of Thailand, and Pok Pok: Noodles.