Age: 29 Hometown: Pleasant Hill, Calif. – currently resides in New York City Profession:: Sous Chef at Trestle on Tenth Culinary Education: Self-Taught Favorite Simple Summer Recipe: Grilled Corn on the Cob with Mayonnaise – with a sweet tea to wash it down. Foodie Fact: Fulk enjoys working with foods that are regional and seasonal and follows the motto "if it grows together, it goes together." Ash enjoys whipping up custards and cooking with leeks, and some of his favorite chefs include Dan Barber and Claudia Fleming.
9376461
Age: 25 Hometown: Atlanta, Ga. Profession:: Executive Chef, Eno Restaurant and Wine Bar Culinary Education: A.O.S. Culinary Arts, C.I.A Favorite Simple Summer Recipe: Salad of Summer Fruits and Vegetables with various textures of raw and cooked, with some purees and sauces
Age: 25 Hometown: Atlanta, Ga. Profession:: Executive Chef, Eno Restaurant and Wine Bar Culinary Education: A.O.S. Culinary Arts, C.I.A Favorite Simple Summer Recipe: Sous-Vide Octopus, Watermelon, Lemon Vinegar, and Nasturtiums Foodie Fact: Kirshtein worked at restaurant Fishbone under Chef Richard Blais before moving to New York to attend school at the Culinary Institute of America. After graduation, Kirshtein returned to Atlanta to reunite with Blais, as Sous Chef at One, Midtown Kitchen.
9376466
Age: 34 Hometown: North Jersey – currently resides in Washington, D.C. Profession:: Executive Chef, Zaytinya Culinary Education: Self-Taught Favorite Simple Summer Recipe: Squash Blossoms Foodie Fact: Isabella has traveled far and wide to perfect his culinary technique. While traveling through Greece and parts of the Middle East, he picked up the slight flavors and nuances of Greek cuisine. His favorite dish to prepare is octopus!
Age: 34 Hometown: North Jersey – currently resides in Washington, D.C. Profession:: Executive Chef, Zaytinya Culinary Education: Self-Taught Favorite Simple Summer Recipe: Squash Blossoms Foodie Fact: Isabella has traveled far and wide to perfect his culinary technique. While traveling through Greece and parts of the Middle East, he picked up the slight flavors and nuances of Greek cuisine. His favorite dish to prepare is octopus!
9376471
Age: 31 Hometown: Cromwell, Conn. – currently resides in Philadelphia, Pa. Profession:: Executive Chef, El Camino Real Culinary Education: Self-Taught Favorite Simple Summer Recipe: Fiddle Head Ferns Sauteed in Butter Garlic Wine and Crushed Red Pepper.
Age: 31 Hometown: Cromwell, Conn. – currently resides in Philadelphia, Pa. Profession:: Sous Chef, Xochitl Culinary Education: Self-Taught Favorite Simple Summer Recipe: Fiddle Head Ferns Sauteed in Butter Garlic Wine and Crushed Red Pepper. Foodie Fact: Zavala is all about bringing "border food" to the city of Brotherly love, and takes great pride in her ability to cook Latino food - particularly Norteña and Tejas cuisines. She would have her last meal with Julia Child, and she'd let Julia do the cooking!
9376476
Age: 40 Hometown: Ann Arbor, Mich. PROFESSION:: Chef-Owner, Eve Culinary Education: Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, France Favorite Simple Summer Recipe: Salad of Ripe Tomatoes, Avocado, Red Onion and Fresh Lime – with Mozzarella di Bufala and some good bread Foodie Fact: Aronoff has showcased a multi-course dinner before The James Beard Foundation, she's the author of her own cookbook - Eve: Contemporary Cuisine Methode Traditionelle - and she served as a delegate to Terra Madre, the bi-annual international slow food meeting in Italy.
9376481
Age: 32 Hometown: Center Sandwich, N.H. – currently resides in Seattle, Wash. Profession:: Chef at Branzino in Seattle, Wash. Culinary Education: Institute of Culinary Education, New York, N.Y. Favorite Simple Summer Recipe: Pan-Fried Soft Shell Crabs with Ramps and Morels Foodie Fact: You don't have to become a chef if you hail from a town named Center Sandwich, but don't tell that to Ashley Merriman. Merriman five kitchen must-haves are quality extra virgin olive oil, champagne vinegar, lemons and thyme.
9376486
Age: 33 Hometown: Frederick, Md.—currently resides in Urbana, Md. Profession:: Chef/Partner, VOLT Restaurant Culinary Education: A.O.S Culinary Arts, C.I.A. Favorite Simple Summer Recipe: Marinated Grilled Hanger Steak, Silver Queen Corn and Fava Bean Succotash, Cherokee Purple Heriloom Tomatoes, Rick’s Arugula Foodie Fact: Voltaggio has become a strong advocate for meats, seafood, and produce that are local, sustainable and organic. He explains, “Through our choice of ingredients we become engaged in more than creating a great dining experience, but in supporting local agriculture.”
9376491
Age: 30 Hometown: Frederick, Md. – currently resides in Los Angeles, Calif. Profession: Chef de Cuisine at The Dining Room, Langham Huntington Hotel & Spa Culinary Education: The Greenbrier Hotel Culinary Apprenticeship Program Favorite Simple Summer Recipe: Soft Poached Egg with Morel Mushrooms, Fava Beans, Jamon Iberico Consommé
Age: 30 Hometown: Frederick, Md. – currently resides in Los Angeles, Calif. Profession: Chef de Cuisine at The Dining Room, Langham Huntington Hotel & Spa Culinary Education: The Greenbrier Hotel Culinary Apprenticeship Program Favorite Simple Summer Recipe: Soft Poached Egg with Morel Mushrooms, Fava Beans, Jamon Iberico Consommé Foodie Fact: Voltaggio has quite the impressive resume, with a number of culinary awards, include the "AAA 55 Diamond" and "Mobil Award." In addition, he was finalist for the James Beard "Best New Restaurant" award.
9376496
Age: 26 Hometown: Atlanta, Ga. Profession:: Executive Chef & Partner, Woodfire Grill Culinary Education: Art Institute of Atlanta Favorite Simple Summer Recipe: Creamed silver queen corn with a warm salad of small tomatoes and pole beans.
Age: 26 Hometown: Atlanta, Ga. Profession:: Executive Chef & Partner, Woodfire Grill Culinary Education: Art Institute of Atlanta Favorite Simple Summer Recipe: Creamed silver queen corn with a warm salad of small tomatoes and pole beans. Foodie Fact: Name a prestigious restaurant in Atlanta, and Gillespie has probably worked there. He's held positions at Atlanta Grill at The Ritz-Carlton, Two Urban Licks, and Woodfire Grill. Gillespie's kitchen is never without banyuls vinegar, smoked pork, espelette pepper, lemon oil and lard, and if Gillespie had to pick a favorite junk food, it would be hot wings.
9376501
Age: 29 Hometown: Biarritz, France – currently resides in San Francisco, Calif. Profession:: Owner, Iluna Basque Culinary Education: C.A.P. de cuisine in southern France, the Basque Region Favorite Simple Summer Recipe: Grilled Sardines and Fresh Tomato Sauce, or Boudin Noire with Caramelized Apples, or Stuffed Calamari in Ink Sauce over Rice Foodie Fact: Noblia became enamored with cooking as a small boy watching his mother prepare “piment d’ espelette” –Basque chili. Noblia admires French chefs Hubert Keller and Rolland Passot, but for his last meal, Mattin would cook a candle-lit dinner for two for himself and Jessica Alba.
9376506
Age: 43 Hometown: Sun Valley, Idaho – currently resides in Seattle, Wash. Profession:: Chef, Artist and Teacher Culinary Education: Self-Taught Favorite Simple Summer Recipe: Grilled Corn and Avocado Salad with a great piece of fish or meat. Foodie Fact: Robin discovered her passion for food while pursuing a Masters in Fine Arts. The chef/artist currently uses her cooking and culinary connections to help raise money for Lymphoma research.
Age: 43 Hometown: Sun Valley, Idaho – currently resides in Seattle, Wash. Profession:: Chef, Artist and Teacher Culinary Education: Self-Taught Favorite Simple Summer Recipe: Grilled Corn and Avocado Salad with a great piece of fish or meat. Foodie Fact: Robin discovered her passion for food while pursuing a Masters in Fine Arts. The chef/artist currently uses her cooking and culinary connections to help raise money for Lymphoma research.
9376511
Age: 33 Hometown: Philadelphia, Pa. Profession:: Chef de Cuisine 10 Arts by Eric Ripert Culinary Education: The Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College, Philadelphia Favorite Simple Summer Recipe: Compressed Watermelon, Chesapeake Bay Jumbo Lump Crab, Fennel Pollen and Wild Boar Prosciutto Chips Foodie Fact: Carroll's culinary star is on the rise - she was personally selected by Chef Ripert as the Chef de Cuisine of 10 Arts at the Ritz-Carlton in Philadelphia. After a long day in the kitchen, Carroll likes to kick back late night with a great sandwich.
9376516
Age: 30 Hometown: Baltimore, Md. Profession:: Executive Chef, Abacrombie Fine Foods Culinary Education: Self-Taught Favorite Simple Summer Recipe: Julienned Summer Squash Tossed with Lemon, Heirloom Cherry Tomatoes, Basil, Salt, Cracked Black Pepper, and a Little Bit of Butter Foodie Fact: She may be young, but Jesse has spent 14 years working in professional kitchens everywhere from Maryland to Australia. She's trained under chefs Andre Tescher and Kurt Spataro, and you can always find Bacon, butter, duck fat, cumin and trash bags in her kitchen!
9376521
Age: 41 Hometown: San Juan, Puerto Rico – currently resides in Atlanta, Ga. Profession:: Chef-Owner, Pura Vida ~ Latino Tapas Restaurant & Bar Culinary Education: AOS Culinary Arts, Culinary Institute of America Favorite Simple Summer Recipe: Charcoal Grilled Skirt steak with a Vegetable Ceviche (celery, radishes, tomatoes and whatever else is available from local farmers)
Age: 41 Hometown: San Juan, Puerto Rico – currently resides in Atlanta, Ga. Profession:: Chef-Owner, Pura Vida ~ Latino Tapas Restaurant & Bar Culinary Education: AOS Culinary Arts, Culinary Institute of America Favorite Simple Summer Recipe: Charcoal Grilled Skirt steak with a Vegetable Ceviche (celery, radishes, tomatoes and whatever else is available from local farmers) Foodie Fact: Santiago has a long list of culinary accolades - including two James Beard nominations for "Best Chef, Southeast." Santiago hopes to raise the cultural awareness of Latin American products and cuisine, and is currently working on a hot pepper-inspired culinary venture he refers to as "taming the heat."
9376526
Age: 40 Hometown: Mare Rouge, Haiti—currently resides in Hollywood, Fla. and Naples, Fla. Profession:: Executive Chef Culinary Education: College Aimee Cesaire and La Varenne Ecole de Cuisine Favorite Simple Summer Recipe: Jumbo Scallop, Sweet Chili Tahini Sauce, Watermelon and Avocado Slaw. Foodie Fact: Duprat is known for daring experimentation with exotic flavors, often incorporating his own Haitian Creole influences with French-Asian Fusion cuisine. His favorite dish to prepare? Flourless chocolate cake.
9376531
Age: 38 Hometown: Rochester, N.Y. – currently resides in San Francisco, Calif. Profession:: Chef / Owner Left Coast Catering Culinary Education: A.O.S Culinary Arts, C.I.A Favorite Simple Summer Recipe: Grilled corn salad with summer beans and chanterelles Foodie Fact: Wickett began her catering career preparing dinners for the executives of Silicon Valley. She went on to become the chef and owner of Left Coast Catering - preparing cuisine based on the hodgepodge of cultures found in the San Francisco Bay Area.
9376536
Age: 33 Hometown: San Francisco, Calif. Profession:: Executive Chef, Google, Bon Appetit ManAgement Company Culinary Education: Le Cordon Bleu, London Favorite Simple Summer Recipe: Fennel Crust Marin Sun Farms’ Rack of Lamb, Saffron Parsnip Puree, Heirloom Carrot and English Pea Ragout with Pinot Noir Reduction Foodie Fact: Preeti’s commitment to seasonality, and her relationship with small local farmers are at the core of her cuisine. If she were a food, what food would she be? “I would be a green zebra tomato – extremely distinctive from all the others, a little hard on the outside, but pure love at the center.”
