Culinary Movers and Shakers, USA
Grant Achatz is a chef and restaurateur recognized for his impact on molecular gastronomy. His Chicago restaurant, Alinea and features his conceptual modernism style of cooking. Along with co-author Nick Kokonas, he has authored Alinea, featuring over 100 of the restaurant’s recipes as well as two digital cookbooks, Paris 1906 and Tour of Thailand.
April Bloomfield achieved the highest score in Iron Chef America’s history. She came to the attention of Mario Batali and shortly thereafter opened The Spotted Pig in New York, followed by the Breslin Bar & Dining Room both of which were awarded Michelin stars. She has also authored two books: A Girl and Her Pig and A Girl and Her Greens.
Anthony Bourdain, was an American celebrity chef and author. He spent many years as the executive chef at Brasserie Les Halles in New York and burst on the scene with his bestselling book Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly. His fame was further embellished with his television shows: A Cook’s Tour (Food Network), Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations and The Layover (Travel Channel), and Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown (CNN).
Sean Brock is a Southern cuisine chef noted for preserving Southern foodways and heirloom ingredients. He is the founding chef and culinary advisor for Husk restaurants in Charleston, Nashville, Greenville and Savannah. He is the author of the James Beard Foundation’s American Cooking category winner, Heritage cookbook.
David Chang is an American restaurateur, author and TV personality and is the founder of the Momofuku restaurant group, a world-wide chain. Chang created, produced and starred in the Netflix series, Ugly Delicious. His cookbook, Momofuku written with Peter Meechan, New York Times food writer, showcases recipes from his restaurants. The duo also publish the quarterly food magazine, Lucky Peach.
Roi Choi is a Korean American chef widely known for his gourmet Korean taco truck, Kogi and is one of the founders of the gourmet food truck. Named as one of the Best New Chefs by Food and Wine magazine, the first food truck operator to be so honored. He operates Kogi Korean BBQ, Chego, A-Frame, Sunny Spot, LocoL, Best Friend and Pot restaurants and is the author of My Life, My City, My Food.
Evan Kleiman is a chef, author, radio host and restaurant owner. Her show Good Food airs on KCRW. Her restaurant, Angeli Caffe, served Italian food. She has authored, or co-authored, eight books on Italian food including Cucina Del Mare: Fish and Seafood Italian Style, Angeli Caffe Pizza Pasta Panini and Cucina Fresca: Italian Food, Simple Prepared.
Edward Lee is a Korean American who blends the flavors of Korea with the traditions and ingredients of the southern United States. He believes that foods grown in the same latitude blend well. He owns four restaurants in Kentucky, Maryland and Washington D.C.
Alice Waters is an American chef and restaurateur who is the owner of Chez Panisse in Berkeley that if noted for its locally grown and organic ingredients and is part of the locavore (local foods) movement and has been Vice President of Slow Food. She is also credited with pioneering California cuisine. She has authored over a dozen books including Chez Panisse Menu Cookbook.
Wolfgang Puck is an American chef and restaurateur in the Californian, French and Fusion styles. His first cookbook, Modern French Cooking for the American Kitchen based on his recipes for Ma Maison restaurant of which he was chef and part owner. He followed this by opening Spago restaurant on the Sunset Strip. Since then, he’s gone on to open or license dozens of restaurants and several cookbooks.
Emeril Lagasse is an American celebrity chef, restaurateur and author whose fusion of Cajun, Creole, Portuguese and French cooking developed into the new New Orleans style of cooking.
Thomas Keller is an American chef—specializing in French cuisine, restaurateur and author of cookbooks. His Napa Valley restaurant, The French Laundry, is a landmark. He is the only American chef to be awarded Michelin three star ratings for two restaurants (Per Se and The French Laundry) at the same time. His books include The French Laundry Cookbook, Under Pressure: Cooking Sous Vide and Ad Hoc at Home.
Bobby Flay is an American celebrity chef specializing in Mexican and Southwest cuisine. He’s the owner and executive chef of Mesa Grill, Bar Americain, Bobby Flay Steak, Gato and the Bobby’s Burger Palace chain. He has appeared or hosted multiple cooking shows on the Food Network including Hot Off the Grill with Bobby Flay, Grill It! With Bobby Flay, and Throwdown with Bobby Flay. He has published a dozen books including Bobby Flay’s From My Kitchen to Your Table and Bobby Flay’s Grilling For Life.
Mario Batali is an American chef, author and restaurateur renowned for his Italian cuisine in which he stressed simplicity. He has owned restaurants in New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Newport Beach, Boston, Singapore, Wetport and New Haven. He was one of the featured chefs on Iron Chef America. His books include Mario Batali Simple Italian Food: Recipes from My Two Villages and Molto Batali: Simple Family Meals from My Home to Yours.
