Chefs & More

Chef Antonia Lofaso is the Executive Chef and Owner of three acclaimed Los Angeles restaurants: Black Market Liquor Bar, Scopa Italian Roots, and DAM. Each of her restaurants combine deep-rooted, personal culinary traditions with the influence of her globetrotting adventures and formal French training. Antonia is widely recognized for her role as host of Food Network's Beachside Brawl and The Julia Child Challenge, as well as Bravo’s Top Chef and CNBC’s Restaurant Startup.  

Chef Nicolas (Nico) López oversees all culinary operations at Mercado Little Spain, Chef José Andrés’ outpost in NYC, a 35,000-square-foot Spanish food hall. Since opening, Mercado Little Spain has been recognized by The New York Times as the Best New Restaurant in 2019 and included in their list of 100 Best Restaurants in 2022. Chef Nico oversaw the creation of meals provided for World Central Kitchen to feed those facing food insecurity during the pandemic, and was named to Nation Restaurant News’ Power List for this extraordinary work.

Based in NYC, Food Education Fund is a not-for-profit organization on a mission to prepare, impact, and empower high school students through experiential learning in hospitality. FEF provides a comprehensive suite of programs, providing students with access to invaluable opportunities and hands-on experiences to enhance their economic and social mobility and allow them to cultivate sustainable careers.

Based in New York, Bernard Sun oversaw the beverage programs for all of Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten's restaurants globally, from Shanghai to Paris for 10 years. Bernard is the recipient of the 2010 James Beard Foundation's Outstanding Wine Service Award for Restaurant Jean-Georges. His wine knowledge and palate are the result of years of study and work in New York’s top restaurants including Lespinaase, Le Cirque2000 and Montrachet. He currently holds a position as Luxury Accounts Manager for Kobrand Corporation.​

Junghyun ‘JP’ Park is the owner and executive chef of Atoboy, Atomix, NARO, and Seoul Salon (collectively NA:EUN Hospitality) in NYC. Chef Junghyun Park was named a “Rising Star” by StarChefs (2016), “Best New Chef” by Food & Wine (2019), and the James Beard Foundation’s “Best Chef: NY State” in 2023."

Gail Simmons is a trained culinary expert, food writer, and dynamic television personality. Since the show’s inception in 2006, she has lent her expertise as a permanent judge on BRAVO’s Emmy and James Beard Award-winning series Top Chef. Gail has published two books: Talking With My Mouth Full: My Life as a Professional Eater (2012) and Bringing It Home: Favorite Recipes from a Life of Adventurous Eating (2017).

Gautier moved from France to NYC in 2012. He met Ashley in 2016 and the two have been inseparable since. The only thing missing in his life was good bread. That is until he started baking. With a background in engineering, he perfected his recipes down to a science. L'Appartement 4F began in their small Brooklyn apartment. Through lots of trial, error, and butter, they curated a menu that brings France to NYC. They opened a brick and mortar in Brooklyn Heights in May of 2022. Each croissant is still rolled by hand!

Vance Henderson is the U.S. National Brand Ambassador for Hendrick’s Gin, the deliciously super premium gin for which he travels the globe inspiring bartenders, consumers, and spirits enthusiasts alike to bring its refreshing and curious world to life. A veteran of both the front and back of the house, Vance also a gifted and versatile bartender has won several “best of” cocktail awards and competitions and has been featured in many national publications. He won the 2020 Bar & Restaurant Award for Brand Ambassador of the Year and won the 2023 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for Best U.S. Brand Ambassador.

In addition to being the Chef and Co-Owner of Playa Provisions in Los Angeles, Brooke is also recognized for being the champion of Top Chef Season 14 win, for her role as West Coast team captain on Food Network's Beachside Brawl, and most recently, as one of the formidable titans on Bobby's Triple Threat. She can also be found at nationwide festivals, including Coachella, The Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, Bottlerock Napa, and beyond; or participating in philanthropic efforts with No Kid Hungry.

Pastry chef Eunji Lee was born in South Korea and fulfilled a lifelong dream of studying pastry arts when she moved to France in 2006. Following pastry school, Eunji spent three years in Ze Kitchen Galerie and then trained under Alain Ducasse and Cedric Grolet at Le Meurice for four years. In 2016, she became the Executive Pastry Chef of Jungsik, the two Michelin star Korean restaurant in NYC, before leaving to open her own pastry boutique, Lysée in 2022. Eunji was named one of La Liste’s Pastry Talents of 2023 an Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs of 2023.

Lydia served as the Global Managing Director of Strategic Partnerships for Christie’s and has single handedly raised over one billion dollars for over 800 organizations. Lydia is the author of two best-selling books, The Most Powerful Woman in the Room Is You and Claim Your Confidence, with a corresponding podcast.

Ben Wald is the New York Portfolio Manager for Bond & Royal, a joint division of Sazerac and 375 Park Avenue Spirits. He oversees the New York market for the largest craft spirits portfolio in America. Before joining Sazerac, Ben was a bar consultant specializing on openings and operations management of high-end spirits programs. He was part of the opening bar team of Silver Lyan in Washington DC, which won Beat New Cocktail Bar in the US from the Spirited Awards in 2020. Ben has his WSET Spirits Level 2 certification with merit and the T Award from the CRT, the division of the Mexican Government charged with certifying tequila production.