Culinary Talent Behind Traverse City’s Food & Wine Scene

Chefs, authors, experts, and celebrity guests came together in Traverse City to join in this special celebration of agriculture, creativity, and craft. Learn more about these talented individuals!

Click for detailed bios.

Tyler Florence

Food Network Host | Cookbook Author | James Beard Nominee | Chef and Owner, Miller & Lux and Wayfare Tavern (San Francisco), Miller & Lux Hualalai (Kona)
Mei Lin

Top Chef Winner and Celebrity Chef | James Beard Nominee | Chef / Partner of Daybird in Los Angeles
Antoni Porowski

NYT Bestselling Author and Culinary Expert | Emmy-Winning Star of Queer Eye | Host of Nat Geo’s No Taste Like Home
Sarah Welch

Top Chef | James Beard Nominee | Co-Founder and Partner at Marrow, Mink in Detroit | Owner of Umbo in Traverse City (Coming in 2026)
Celina Tio

Top Chef Masters and Iron Chef America | James Beard Award Winner | Chef and Owner, Belfry and Wolf Den in Kansas City, MO
Kate Williams

Chef and Owner, Lady of the House, Candy Bar, and Karl's in Detroit | James Beard Nominee | Food & Wine’s Best New Restaurants
Debbie Gold

James Beard Award–Winning Chef | Top Chef Masters | Culinary Director at AMDP Restaurants
Abra Berens

James Beard–Nominated Chef and Author | Advocate for Equitable Food Systems | Chef at Granor Farm in Michigan | Author of Ruffage, Grist, and Pulp
Omar Anani

Chef and Owner, Saffron De Twah in Detroit | James Beard Nominee | Food Network Chopped Champion
Ji Hye Kim

Chef and Owner, Miss Kim in Ann Arbor | James Beard Nominee | Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs
Cameron Rolka

Chef and Owner, Mink in Detroit | Owner of Umbo in Traverse City (Coming in 2026)
Amy Smart & Carter Oosterhouse

Actress and Television Personality | Bonobo Winery Co-owners | Founders of Carter's Kids
Jim Berger

Co-Founder of High Noon Entertainment | Creator and Executive Producer of Food Network and related programming | Principal, Aspen Mountain Media
Matt Rodbard

TASTE Magazine Founding Editor | NY Times Best Selling Author | James Beard Award Winner
Susan Kostrzewa

Wine Journalist at JamesSuckling.com | Director-at-Large at Les Dames D'Escoffier New York | Wine Educator
Steve Reddicliffe

Editor, The New York Times Essential Book of Cocktails (2nd Edition)
Sayeh Tavangar

International Chef and Culinary Educator | Former Broadcast Journalist (CBS, Reuters, Bloomberg) | Host of Upcoming Netflix Cooking Show | Food Network Guest | Expert in Persian and Global Cuisine
Mario Batali

Chef and Restaurateur | Television Personality
Jennifer Blakeslee

Co-Chef/Owner of The Cooks’ House, Traverse City | James Beard Nominee | Michelin-Starred Chef
Eric Patterson

Co-Chef/Owner of The Cooks’ House, Traverse City | Michelin-Starred Chef | James Beard Nominee
Thad Morrow

Founder of Bacaro in Champaign, IL | Former Wine Director at Blue Apron | Owner of Ladro Enoteca and Ladro Zero
Amanda Danielson

Founder of Trattoria Stella, Traverse City | Culinary Educator and Hospitality Leader | Founder of Dirt to Glass™ and Intentional Agriculture
John Korycki

Estate Chef, Bistro Polaris at Black Star Farms | Owner and Tour Guide, Chef JK Travels
Emily Stewart

Pastry Chef and Co-Owner of Modern Bird | Former Pastry Lead at Bang Bang Pie | Alum of BOKA and Blackbird
Sarah Bobier

Chef de Cuisine at Artisan, Traverse City | CIA Graduate and SkillsUSA Gold Medalist | Former Chef at NYC’s ABC Kitchen
Brian Fleuter

Executive Chef at NOBO Riverside | Le Cordon Bleu–Trained | Former Chef at Tavern on the Green and Savoy