Build a Better Burger: Past Judges

Get the Low Down on Our Panel of Past Build a Better Burger Judges.

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Past Judges

Nathan Anda

Nathan Anda is the Butcher and Chef at Red Apron Butcher, an artisan butchery and small batch producer of handmade charcuterie founded in 2009, as well as The Partisan, its adjoining restaurant and bar.

In 2004, he accepted his first Executive Chef role at Tallula and EatBar in Arlington, Virginia. Anda quickly opted to break down whole animals to use in his charcuterie, baby burgers, house made bacons and foie gras, all which soon gained acclaim from USA Today and The Washington Post. All the while, Anda continued to build on his knowledge through butcher shop tours in Italy, fermented and cured meat workshops at Iowa State University and an internship at The Fatted Calf in San Francisco. In 2008, Anda founded Red Apron Butchery and began actualizing his vision for pure, quality meats.

His combination of traditional techniques and culinary expertise has helped Red Apron emerge as D.C.’s definitive source for real and honest charcuterie, pâtés, salumi, terrines, sausages and more. Anda’s work earned him a Good Food Award in 2011 for charcuterie, and accolades from The Washington Post, Men’s Health, Bon Appetit, Washingtonian, Urban Daddy and others.

Tricia Bergman

Tricia Bergman, current Food Editor, Recipe Developer, and Project Manager for authored and branded cookbooks at Waterbury Publications, Inc., grew up in Des Moines, where she developed her fondness for cooking and baking alongside her mother.

After completing a major in Consumer Food Science at ISU and gaining experience from internships in test kitchens at Better Homes and Gardens, the Pillsbury Bake Off, and Betty Crocker, she was employed by Tone’s Spices as a Food Scientist developing seasoning blends. She later became the product development manager and oversaw the development of seasoning blends, the sensory evaluations of raw spices as well as blends, the test kitchen, and Spice Advice consumer hotline.

On the editorial staff at Meredith Corporation, Bergman was a recipe developer and editor who worked closely with graphic designers and photographers to produce cookbooks. She is often asked if she’s a good cook—yes!—and enjoys sharing her passion for delicious food with friends and family.

Ammar Shallal

Ammar Shallal and his best friends rated 100 burgers around New York City for over 5 years before deciding to open up their burger club to the world. The Burgerator iPhone app launched on National Burger day in 2014 to help users find, rate and share the best burgers on earth. Since the launch, thousands of users have rated tons of burgers around the globe all in pursuit of the world s best burger. Burgerator has been featured in the New Yorker, CNN, Fox News, Washingtonian and lots more.

Marika Vida Arnold

For the past decade, Marika Vida has been one of the most in demand, highly respected wine professionals in the business. She has served as Wine Director of the Ritz Carlton Central Park New York; Sommelier of the top rated Laurent Tourondel Bistro BLT Market; Sommelier for the Philadelphia Ritz Carlton with Chef Terrence Feury and ‘Top Chef’ Winner Kevin Sbraga. She also developed the opening wine program at 10Arts with Chef Eric Ripert and Chef de Cuisine Jennifer Carroll.

Under the auspices of her new consulting firm Vida et Fils, she currently works as the Wine Director of the Ritz Carlton Central Park New York. Her most recent project there is the critically acclaimed Women In Wine Program, which features female winemakers from around the globe, including a popular dinner series. (Photo: Doug Young)

Christopher Morgan

A current chef for Red Apron Group in Washington DC, Chef Christopher Morgan spent his early career cooking in San Francisco. After attending Le Cordon Bleu’s California Culinary Academy, Morgan worked for Zuni Cafe under Chef Judy Rogers and Charles Phan s Slanted Door Restaurant Group.

After returning to Washington DC, he served as opening Executive Sous Chef at DC hotspot, the Partisan and opened The Dabney as Sous Chef under the tutelage of Chef Jeremiah Langhorne.

Morgan loves the passion and energy of the restaurant world, and credits his mother for his love of food and cooking.

Brad Garoon

Brad Garoon is the founder and editor in chief of Burger Weekly, the ultimate source for American burger knowledge and the fastest growing network of burger bloggers around the United States. Garoon introduced the popular #BURGRAPHY hashtag and created spin off Instagram accounts Fries Equal Crack and Chicky Weekly.

A burger enthusiast and marketing specialist, Garoon produces and co hosts the Schweid & Sons sponsored Like Bite & Share podcast, a weekly source for interviews with the most successful and brightest innovators in the food and hospitality marketing field. He also authored the e-book Burger City, a comprehensive guide to navigating New York City s extensive hamburger scene.

Hoda Mahmoodzadegan

Marketing Executive turned Entrepreneur, Hoda Mahmoodzadegan left Corporate America in pursuit of self discovery and a healthier lifestyle, and discovered her life’s passion along the way. In 2010, Mahmoodzadegan took a leap and invested her all into starting Molly’s Milk Truck—a Hoboken, NJ based mobile food and beverage spot that offers premium quality, accessible, healthy alternatives to American classics.

The wide spread success of Molly’s Milk Truck lead to the launch of a line of almond milk based beverages sold at the whole foods markets in NY, NJ, & CT along with 300+ retail accounts.

Molly’s Milk Truck has been featured in Cooking Light magazine and its turkey burger gained praise on CBS New York’s “Burger Week.” Mahmoodzadegan also made an appearance on Lifetime’s cooking competition Supermarket Superstar.

 

Michelle Kogan

After graduating from the French Culinary Institute, Michelle Kogan’s innate passion for food led her to work for some of New York City s finest restaurants. Her craft was perfected at Nobu, Torrisi and Parm, Tao Downtown, and most recently, Morimoto (Executive Chef).

Kogan left Morimoto to join Mahmoodzadegan for the launch of Molly’s Milk Truck s first brick and mortar location called Molly s Milk Truck Sweet & Savory located in Bushwick, Brooklyn.

Paul Lowe

Before becoming Editor In Chief and Founder of Sweet Paul Magazine, Paul Lowe worked as a food stylist for 25 years. In 2007, Lowe was transformed into “Sweet Paul” when he chose the name for his food and crafts blog, which eventually garnered 200,000 hits a month.

In 2009, Lowe decided to create a magazine to showcase not only his work, but also the work of his “food geek, photography obsessed, craft genius” friends. Full of easy yet elegant recipes, stylish crafts, entertaining ideas, shopping tips, recurring features and more, Sweet Paul magazine is the source people all over the world turn to for inspiration.

Like the magazine’s tagline, he is continually “chasing the sweet things in life.” (Photo: Quyn Duong)

Brian LeBrasseur

Sommelier Brian LeBrasseur began his wine career in 2004. After studying philosophy at Brandeis University, LeBrasseur realized his passion for wine and the restaurant industry while working at a neighborhood wine bar on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. LeBrasseur’s first Sommelier position was a Wine Spectator s Grand Award winning wine program at the 2 star Michelin rated restaurant Gilt, in the New York Palace Hotel, under the tutelage of Patrick Cappiello. Since then, he has gone on to work in restaurants from such esteemed chefs as Jean Georges Vongerichten and Michael White. While furthering his career within the Court of Master Sommeliers, LeBrasseur is currently working at Marta under Master Sommelier Jack Mason.
Rusty Hamlin (2015) Rusty Hamlin is the executive chef for the Zac Brown Brand and host of the renowned pre-concert catered party, the “Eat & Greet.” Rusty is mindful that he’s not just representing the Zac Brown Band; he’s also an ambassador for a tradition of southern hospitality, encompassing the South’s traditions of sharing and camaraderie around the table, even as the cuisine at the center of it changes.

Cristen Clark (2015) 2013 Build A Better Burger Winner, Alternative Burgers

Sharon Ufberg (2015) Dr. Sharon Ufberg is a lifestyle journalist who writes for various print and online publications about women, wellness, music and wine. She is a highly respected integrative health practitioner and the co-founder of the personal growth and wellness companies Elevate Gen Y and BorrowedWisdom.com.

Head Judge: James McNair (1990—2013) Author of more than 40 cookbooks; Build a Better Burger® National Cook-Off Chairman; cooking teacher; former food spokesperson for Sutter Home; book designer; food stylist and photographer; and recipient of the International Association of Food Professionals (IACP) Award of Excellence in Food Photography.

Bruce Aidells (2000) Founder of Aidells Sausage Company; author of numerous cookbooks, including the meat and poultry sections of the latest Joy of Cooking; and co-author of The Complete Meat Cookbook and the IACP award-winning Hot Links and Country Flavors.

Antonia Allegra (1999 and 2004) Director of Symposium for Professional Food Writers at The Greenbrier and Symposium for Professional Wine Writers at Meadowood; past President of IACP; former editor-in-chief of Vine Napa Valley magazine; founding editor of Appellation magazine; and author of Napa Valley: The Ultimate Winery Guide and Napa Valley Expedition Guide audio tour and guidebook.

Joey Altman (2002) Host of Bay Cafe on KRON-TV in San Francisco; recipient of two James Beard Awards for Best Local Cooking Show; former chef/owner of Wild Hare in Menlo Park, California; and former chef for Miss Pearl’s Jam House, Stars, and several other restaurants and top caterers in San Francisco, and Commander’s Palace in New Orleans under Chef Emeril Lagasse.

Pam Anderson (2002 and 2005) Food columnist for USA Weekend magazine; author of CookSmart, How to Cook Without a Book, and the IACP award-winning The Perfect Recipe; cooking teacher; food writer for Fine Cooking, Cooking Light, Food & Wine, Saveur, and other magazines; and former executive editor of Cook’s Illustrated magazine and food editor of Cook’s magazine.

Michael Bauer (1994) Executive food and wine editor of the San Francisco Chronicle; co-editor of The San Francisco Chronicle Cookbook and The Secrets of Success Cookbook; former restaurant critic and wine editor of The Dallas Times Herald; former features writer at The Kansas City Star; recipient of the Association of Food Journalists’ top award for restaurant criticism; and an inductee into the James Beard Foundation’s Who’s Who of American Food and Beverage.

Jennifer Beckman (2012) Winner of the BBB $100,000 Grand Prize in 2011; winner of National Cornbread Championship, Crisco Mediterranean Inspirations Recipe Contest, and Mama Mary’s Pizza Creations Contest; finalist in Gilroy Garlic Festival Cook-Off, the Good Housekeeping Cook Your Heart Out Cook-Off, National Beef Cook-Off, and Pillsbury Bake-Off.

Sondra Bernstein (2009) Proprietor of the girl & the fig and Estate restaurants in Sonoma, California, author of the girl & the fig cookbook, creator of “Wine Country Fig Food” products, former operations manager at Fish Market and Marabellas in Philadelphia and Alice’s Restaurant and Tavern on Main in Los Angeles.

Jan Birnbaum (1995) Former executive chef/owner of Catahoula Restaurant and Saloon in Calistoga, California, and former executive chef of Campton Place in San Francisco.

Anthony Dias Blue (1996) Wine and spirits editor of Bon Appétit magazine; director of the San Francisco Fair International Wine competition; and author of American Wine–a Comprehensive Guide.

Flo Braker (1996) Cooking teacher; columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle food section; author of The Simple Art of Perfect Baking and the IACP award-winning Sweet Miniatures; and past President of the International Association of Culinary Professionals.

Jacquelyn Buchanan (2007) Julia Child Director of Culinary Programs at COPIA: The American Center for Wine, Food & the Arts in Napa, CA; former chef at Hayes Street Grill in San Francisco, The General´s Daughter in Sonoma, CA, and George Lucas´ Skywalker Ranch; former co-owner of Buchanan Ranch Vineyard Services and Buchanan Cellars in Sonoma Valley.

Kathleen Buckley (1991) European-based wine and travel writer for websites and publications; managing editor of the Wine Enthusiast magazine and website; and former lifestyle editor of the Oakland Tribune.

Lucy “Lulu” Anne Buffett (2008 and 2010) Owner of LuLu’s at Homeport Marina in Gulf Shores, Alabama, featuring Lucy’s version of Cheeseburger in Paradise, a nod to the song closely associated with her famous brother, musician Jimmy Buffett; author of Crazy Sista Cooking; and creator of LuLu’s Fun Food products.

Gene Burns (1998) Host of the weekly Dining Around with Gene Burns and a nightly talk show on KGO radio in San Francisco, and former host of a nationally syndicated talk show originating on WOR in New York City.

Hugh Carpenter (2009) Author of 15 cookbooks, including the IACP award-winning Pacific Flavors, Chopstix, Fusion Food Cookbook, The Great Ribs Book, Hot Barbecue, and Fast Wok; operator of Camp Napa Culinary in Napa Valley and Camp San Miguel in San Migel de Allende, Mexico; and popular teacher at cooking schools throughout North America.

Fran Carpentier (2005 and 2010) – Senior editor of Parade magazine, where she oversees the national Sunday magazine’s food and nutrition coverage, including the “Simply Delicious” and “What’s cookin’” columns by Sheila Lukins, and edits the annual “What America Eats” issue; media spokesperson for Parade in segments about food, health and lifestyle; spokesperson for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and former editor-in-chief of Lady’s Circle magazine.

L. Pierce Carson (2004) Food and wine editor and features writer for the Napa Valley Register.

Barbara (Babs) Chernetz (2005) Food editor of Redbook magazine; founding executive food editor of Good Food magazine; former food editor at McCall´s magazine and senior food editor at Rosie magazine; contributor to many other food and lifestyle magazines and newspapers and the Time-Life cookbook series Great Meals in Minutes; author of Feed Your Family Right: Healthy Chicken, the Access New York Restaurant Guide, and Blend It!

Katie Chin (2012) Culinary Ambassador to City of Hope in Los Angeles; author of Everyday Chinese Cooking, 300 Best Rice Cooker Recipes, and Everyday Thai Cooking; featured in many food and lifestyle magazines;  co-hosted Double Happiness on PBS with her restauranteur mother, Leeann Chin; guest judge on Food Network’s Iron Chef America; creator of the food blog “Sweet and Sour Chronicles”.

Cathy Cochran-Lewis (2008) Global Public Relations Coordinator for Whole Foods Markets based in Austin, Texas; President of the International Association of Culinary Professionals; creator of the Texas-based Central Market Cooking School program; finalist for IACP Award of Excellence for non-vocational cooking schools; and a regional panelist for the James Beard Foundation Awards for Restaurants & Chefs.

Greg Cole (2001) Executive chef/owner of Celadon and Cole’s Chop House in Napa, California, and former chef at Pasta Prego and Ristorante Piatti in Sonoma, California.

Elaine Corn (1991) Author of several cookbooks, including the James Beard and IACP award-winning Now You’re Cooking: Everything a Beginner Needs to Know to Start Cooking Today, and former food editor of the Sacramento Bee, Louisville Courier-Journal, and Austin American-Statesman.

Cat Cora (2006) Iron Chef on Food Network; Executive Chef of Bon Appetit magazine; author of Cat Cora’s Kitchen and Cooking From the Hip; creator and president of Chefs for Humanity; nutritional spokesperson for UNICEF; cooking teacher; and former executive chef for Postino in Lafayette, CA, and chef de cuisine for Bistro Don Giovanni in Napa Valley.

Marion Cunningham (1993, 1994, and 2000) Author of The Fannie Farmer Cookbook (revised editions), The Fannie Farmer Baking Book, The Breakfast Book, The Supper Book, Learning to Cook, and Lost Recipes; food columnist for the Los Angeles Times and San Francisco Chronicle; restaurant and recipe consultant; former assistant to James Beard; and recipient of the James Beard Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Nathalie Dupree (2008) Respected pioneer of the “New Southern Cooking” movement; columnist for the Charleston, South Carolina Post & Courier; former host of many television southern cooking shows on PBS, The Learning Channel, and the Food Network; author of ten cookbooks, including the James Beard Award-winning Southern Memories and Nathalie Dupree’s Comfortable Entertaining; a founder and two-term president of the International Association of Culinary Professionals; a founder of The Southern Foodways Alliance; founder and longtime instructor of Rich’s Cooking School in Atlanta; and former chef in Majorca, Spain and rural Georgia; and spokesperson or consultant for Best Foods, Kraft, Lea & Perrins, General Foods, Campbell’s Soup, and other national food companies.

David Duran (1995) Executive with H-E-B, Texas’s largest supermarket chain.

Erin Evenson (2013) BBB $100,000 Grand Prize winner for 2012;  participant and winner in numerous local and national food competitions; first home cook to compete on Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen.

Susan Feniger (2007) Co-chef/owner of Border Grill in Santa Monica, CA, and Las Vegas and Ciudad in Los Angeles; co-author of five cookbooks, including Cooking with Too Hot Tamales, Mesa Mexicana, and City Cuisine; co-host of Too Hot Tamales on Food Network; co-creator of Border Girls food products and signature kitchen equipment.

Barbara Pool Fenzl (2008) Owner of Les Gourmettes Cooking School in Phoenix; guest cooking teacher throughout the United States and the Périgord region of France; host of Savor the Southwest on PBS television; author of Southwest the Beautiful Cookbook, Savor the Southwest, and Seasonal Southwest Cooking; former food editor of Southwest Passages and Phoenix Home and Garden magazines; frequent contributor to Bon Appétit magazine and other national publications; past president of the International Association of Culinary Professionals; and a benefactor and past board member of the American Institute of Wine and Food.

Janet Fletcher (1998) Staff food and wine writer for the San Francisco Chronicle; author or co-author of sixteen cookbooks, including Fresh from the Farmers’ Market and The Cheese Course; and recipient of two James Beard Awards for Newspaper Feature Writing and an IACP Bert Green Award for food journalism.

Gale Gand (2011) Executive pastry chef and partner at Tru and partner in M Burger in Chicago; former host of Sweet Dreams on Food Network; author of seven cookbooks; and owner of Gale’s Root Beer.

Hugh Garvey (2003) Senior editor of Bon Appétit magazine and freelance writer for Travel and Leisure, GQ, Details, and Fortune magazines and the Village Voice.

Duncan Gott (2001) Co-owner of Taylor’s Automatic Refresher, San Francisco and St. Helena, California.

Joel Gott (2001) Co-owner of Taylor’s Automatic Refresher, San Francisco and St. Helena, California, and Napa Valley winemaker.

Fred Halpert (1995) Former chef/owner of Brava Terrace in St. Helena, California.

Kate Heyhoe (2002) Executive editor of Global Gourmet (globalgourmet.com); author of Cooking with Kids for Dummies and A Chicken in Every Pot; co-author of Harvesting the Dream: The Rags to Riches Tale of the Sutter Home Winery; and former chef/owner of a restaurant in Italy.

Martha Holmberg (2003) Publisher and former editor-in-chief of Fine Cooking magazine; former administrative director of La Varenne cooking school; former cookbook editor in London and Paris; and former private chef in Paris and cook at Mocha Cafe in Cherry Creek, Colorado.

Todd Humphries (2002) Executive chef/co-owner of Martini House in St. Helena, California; former executive chef of the Wine Spectator Greystone Restaurant in St. Helena and Campton Place Hotel in San Francisco; and former chef at the Peninsula Hotel and Lespinasse in New York City.

Philippe Jeanty (2001) Chef/owner of Bistro Jeanty and Père Jeanty in Yountville, California, and Jeanty at Jack’s in San Francisco, and former executive chef of Domaine Chandon restaurant in Napa Valley.

Elaine Johnston (1991 and 2013) Editor in the food department of Sunset magazine and books; cooking teacher; and food writer for British House and Garden and Taste magazines and the International Herald Tribune.

Lynne Rosetto Kasper (1999) Author of The Splendid Table, the only book to date to win Cookbook of the Year awards from both the James Beard Foundation and the IACP; host of The Splendid Table on PBS Radio, which received a James Beard Award for Best National Radio Show on Food; cooking teacher; and freelance food writer for the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and Food & Wine and Bon Appétit magazines.

Thomas Keller (1999) Chef/owner of The French Laundry (often named the number one restaurant in America) and Bouchon bistro and bakery in Yountville, California, Bouchon in Las Vegas, and Per Se in New York City; author of The French Laundry Cookbook, an IACP Cookbook of the Year award winner, and the IACP and James Beard Foundation award-winning Bouchon; and recipient of James Beard Foundation Awards for Best Chef: California, America’s Outstanding Chef of the Year, and Best New Restaurant.

Kevin Kolman (2012 and 2013) Weber’s Grill Master; frequent appearances on television, radio, and the internet about all things to do with grilling; lecturer on barbecue science at Ohio State University; cooking teacher; and judge of numerous grilling competitions around the world.

Ellen Koteff (2003) Executive Editor of Nation’s Restaurant News; recipient of the McAllister Editorial Fellowship from the American Business Media; and former newspaper writer in Parsippany, New Jersey, and Palm Beach, Florida.

Sheila Lukins (2000) Food Editor of Parade magazine; co-author of the Silver Palate cookbooks, including the IACP award-winning Good Times Cookbook and The New Basics Cookbook; and author of All Around the World Cookbook, U.S.A. Cookbook, and Celebrate!

Daisy Martinez (2006, 2007 and 2010) Star of Daisy Cooks on PBS; author of Daisy Cooks!: Latin Flavors That Will Rock Your World; chef/owner of The Passionate Palate catering company in Brooklyn, NY; former prep-kitchen chef on Lidia’s Italian-American Kitchen on PBS; and former model and actress.

Susan Mayo (1994) Vice president of consumer affairs for Farm Fresh markets in Virginia.

Kelly McCune (1990) Author of The Art of Grilling and the IACP award-winning The Grill Book.

Steve McDonagh (2006 and 2010) Co-host of Party Line with the Hearty Boys on Food Network; co-winner of The Next Food Network Star in 2005; co-owner of The Hearty Boys catering company and HB restaurant in Chicago; co-author of Talk with Your Mouth Full; and actor.

Mark Miller (1994 and 2005) Chef/owner of Coyote Cafe in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Red Sage in Washington, DC, and Wildfire in Sydney, Australia; author of eleven cookbooks, including Coyote Cafe, Coyote Pantry, and The Great Chile Book; former chef at Chez Panisse and chef/owner of Fourth Street Grill and The Santa Fe Bar and Grill in Berkeley, California; and recipient of a James Beard Award for Best Chef : Southwest.

Krista Montgomery (2003) Food Editor of Cooking Light magazine and former food editor for Gusto!, a Latin edition of Cooking Light.

Jeff Morgan (2004) Author of The Dean and Deluca Cookbook; co-author of The Working Parents Cookbook; wine writer; Napa Valley winemaker; and former East Coast Editor for Wine Spectator magazine.

Jodi Morgan (2004) Co-author of The Working Parents Cookbook and executive director of the American Institute of Wine and Food.

Lori Lyn Narlock (2004) Author of The Food Lover’s Companion to Napa Valley and The Wine Lover’s Guide to The Wine Country; co-author of Smoothies and Cocktail Food; food columnist for the Napa Valley Register; and event coordinator of the 1993 Build a Better Burger® contest.

Charles Neave (2002) Former editor of Destination Napa Valley; writer for Esquire, Yankee, The Boston Globe, and other magazines and newspapers; and co-author of Uncle Billy’s Downeast Barbeque Book.

Katie O’Kennedy (2002) Senior Editor of Bon Appétit magazine.

Cindy Pawlcyn (1995, 2001, and 2005) Executive chef/owner of Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen and Mustards Grill in Napa Valley; author of The Fog City Diner Cookbook and the James Beard Award-winning Mustards Grill Napa Valley Cookbook; and former executive chef/partner of several northern California restaurants, including Buckeye Roadhouse in Mill Valley, Miramonte and Tra Vigne in St. Helena, and Fog City Diner in San Francisco.

Caprial Pence (2002) Host of several PBS television cooking shows; chef/co-owner of Caprial’s Bistro and cooking school in Portland, Oregon; author of Caprial’s Seasonal Kitchen and five other cookbooks; and recipient of a James Beard Award for Best Chef: Pacific Northwest.

John Pence (2002) Co-host of Caprial and John Cook for Friends on PBS television and co-owner of Caprial’s Bistro and cooking school in Portland, Oregon.

Jamie Purviance (2002) Author of Weber’s Art of the Grill and Weber’s Big Book of Grilling; editor of The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook; cooking teacher; former executive chef for St. Supéry Vineyards; and former Food Editor of Appellation—Wine Country Living magazine.

Steven Raichlen (2012) Multi-award-winning author of 29 cookbooks, including the international blockbusters How to Grill and The Barbecue Bible; contributor to The New York Times, Esquire, GQ, and all major food magazines; lecturer on barbecue at the Smithsonian Institution, the Library of Congress, and Harvard University; founder of Barbecue University, now at the Broadmoor resort in Colorado Springs; creator of the Best of Barbecue and Planet Barbecue grilling accessory lines; and host of Barbecue University and Primal Grill on PBS television.

William Rice (1991) Principal food and wine columnist for the Chicago Tribune; author of Feast of Wine and Food in America and Where to Eat in America; former editor-in-chief of Food & Wine magazine; and former executive food editor of the Washington Post.

Judy Rodgers (1994) Chef/owner of Zuni Cafe in San Francisco; recipient of a James Beard Award for America’s Outstanding Chef of the Year; author of The Zuni Cafe Cookbook, winner of the James Beard Award for Cookbook of the Year and an IACP award; and former chef of Union Hotel in Benicia, California, Chez Panisse in Berkeley, California, and Triosgros in Roanne, France.

Rick Rodgers (2008) Author of over thirty cookbooks, including 365 Ways to Cook Hamburger and Other Ground Meats; behind-the-scenes work on an additional thirty cookbooks with many noted chefs and celebrities; popular cooking teacher throughout America and recipient of Bon Appétit magazine’s American Food and Entertaining Award for Outstanding Cooking Teacher; frequent contributor to Bon Appétit and other national food publications; media spokesperson for top food, beverage and housewares companies; guest chef on Good Morning America, Today, The Morning Show and many other television shows; and former chef/owner of Cuisine Américaine catering in Manhattan.

Anne Rosenzweig (1993) Chef/co-owner of Arcadia and vice chairman of 21 Club in New York and author of The Arcadia Seasonal Mural and Cookbook.

Teri Sandison (2009) Prolific and award-winning food photographer, including over 60 cookbooks; collaborator on 15 cookbooks with husband, chef Hugh Carpenter; and former adjunct instructor in food photography and styling at the Culinary Institute of America Greystone in St. Helena.

Donna Scala (1999) Chef/co-owner of Bistro Don Giovanni in Napa, California; former chef/co-owner of Scala’s Bistro in San Francisco; co-creator of Piatti Ristorante in Yountville, California; and former co-owner of Donarcy’s gourmet food store in Sausalito, California.

Giovanni Scala (2001) Co-owner of Bistro Don Giovanni in Napa, California; former co-owner of Scala’s Bistro in San Francisco; and co-creator of Piatti Ristorante in Yountville, California.

Chris Schlesinger (1990, 1993) Chef/owner of East Coast Grill, Jake & Earl’s Dixie Barbeque, and The Blue Room, all in Cambridge, Massachusetts; co-author of numerous cookbooks with John Willoughby, including the James Beard Foundation award-winning The Thrill of the Grill, Let the Flames Begin, and License to Grill; and recipient of a James Beard Award for Best Chef: Northeast.

Arthur Schwartz (2000) Host of daily Arthur Schwartz with Food Talk on WOR Radio in New York City; cooking teacher; and author of Soup Suppers, What to Cook When You Think There’s Nothing in the House to Eat, Cooking in a Small Kitchen, Naples at Table, and New York City Food, an IACP Cookbook of the Year.

Art Smith (2008) Chef/owner of TABLE fifty-two in Chicago and Art and Soul in the nation’s capitol; author of several cookbooks, including the James Beard Award-winning Back to the Table: The Reunion of Food and Family and the Gourmand World Cookbook Award-winning Kitchen Life: Real Food for Real Families; former personal chef to Oprah Winfrey and other celebrities and politicians; contributing editor to O, The Oprah Magazine and the food section of Oprah.com; and founder of Common Threads, a nonprofit organization fostering a familial environment where children learn to value each other and discover universal understanding and mutual acceptance.

Dan Smith (2006 and 2010) Co-host of Party Line with the Hearty Boys on Food Network; co-winner of The Next Food Network Star in 2005; co-owner and chef of The Hearty Boys catering company and HB restaurant in Chicago; co-author of Talk with Your Mouth Full; former catering chef in New York City and chef/owner of a café in Bethel, Maine; and former model and actor.

Susan Spungen (2003) Founding Food Editor of Martha Stewart Living magazine; former director of all things food for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia; and co-author of the IACP award-winning Martha Stewart’s Hors D’Oeuvres Handbook.

Jeffrey Starr (1999, 2000 and 2010) Culinary director and chef of Sutter Home Winery; Napa Valley Mustard Festival “Chef of the Year”; Culinary Chair of the 2003 Napa Valley Wine Auction; opening chef of Crescent Club in Dallas, Texas, and Coyote Cafe in Santa Fe, New Mexico; former executive chef of Malibu Adobe in Malibu, California; and former owner of Starr Caterers in Napa Valley.

Harvey Steiman (1991) Editor-at-large of Wine Spectator magazine, host of In the Kitchen with Harvey radio show, and former food and wine editor of The San Francisco Examiner

Zanne Stewart (1996) Food editor of Gourmet magazine and former board member and chair of the Julia Child Cookbook Awards for the IACP.

Christopher Styler (2007) Culinary producer for several PBS cooking shows, including Daisy Cooks!, Lidia’s Italian Table, Julia and Jacque, Savor the Southwest, and America’s Test Kitchen; author and co-author of numerous cookbooks, including The Desperate Housewives Cookbook and Working the Plate; editor at Large for Food Arts magazine; cooking teacher.

Angela Tafoya (2013) The San Francisco Editor at Refinery29.com, an independent fashion and style website; former editor at Angeleno magazine, Sugar Inc, and modernluxury.com.

Heather Terhune (2011) Executive chef of Sable Kitchen & Bar in Chicago; former chef at Altwood Cafe in Chicago and The Willard Room and Jean Louis in Washington, DC; and finalist on Top Chef: Texas on Bravo TV.

Steven Tevere (2001) Chef at Left Bank in San Mateo, California; former chef at Meadowood resort in St. Helena, California; and former chef at Left Bank in Larkspur, California, and Boulevard in San Francisco.

Bob Torkelson (2011) President and chief operating officer of Trincher Family Estates in Napa Valley, California; and former executive at E. & J. Gallo Winery and Lovotti Brothers Distributing Company.

Bob Trinchero (1990, 1991, 1994, 1996, and 1998) Chairman of the Board and former chief executive officer of Trinchero Family Estates and Sutter Home Family Vineyards; member of the Napa Valley Vintner’s Association and Napa Valley Wine Technical Group; named “Citizen of the Year” by the St. Helena Chamber of Commerce; recipient of the Distinguished Service Award by Wine Spectator magazine; and co-chair of the 2003 Napa Valley Wine Auction.

Roger Trinchero (1993 and 1995) Vice chairman and chief executive officer and former president and chief operating officer of Trinchero Family Estates and Sutter Home Family Vineyards; and co-chair of the 2003 Napa Valley Wine Auction.

Barbara Tropp (1993) Late chef/owner of China Moon Cafe in San Francisco; food product entrepreneur; cooking teacher; and author of The Modern Art of Chinese Cooking, The China Diet, and the IACP award-winning China Moon Cookbook.

Tina Ujlaki (2003) Executive food editor of Food & Wine magazine; former cookbook editor for Time-Life Books; and former translator of French cookbooks into English.

Patricia Unterman (1998) Chef/owner of Hayes Street Grill and the late Vicolo Pizzeria in San Francisco; author of Food Lover’s Guide to San Francisco; and restaurant reviewer and food writer for The San Francisco Examiner.

Scott Warner (2009) Executive chef at Bistro Don Giovanni in Napa Valley; performer with the all-chef musical group, The Back Burner Blues Band; former chef at Rose Pistola, Black Cat, Rose’s Café, and Restaurant Lulu in San Francisco.

Jennifer Crutcher Wilkinson (1996) Food and entertaining editor of Ladies’ Home Journal magazine; former food and entertaining editor of Traditional Home magazine; freelance food writer for the Washington Post and other newspapers and magazines; and former food editor for Northern Virginia Sun.

John Willoughby (1990, 1993, and 2005) Executive editor of Gourmet magazine; co-author of numerous cookbooks with Chris Schlesinger, including the James Beard Foundation award-winning The Thrill of the Grill, Let the Flames Begin, and License to Grill; contributor to numerous magazines and major metropolitan newspapers; and former senior editor of Cook’s Illustrated magazine.

John Zehnder (2003) Executive chef and food and beverage director for Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth in Michigan; regional Vice President of American Culinary Federation; recipient of 28 national awards for culinary competitions and recipe contests; author of two cookbooks about his restaurant; and consultant and recipe developer for commercial food products and marketing boards.

Dave Zino (2011) Executive chef and culinary spokesperson for National Cattlemen’s Beef Association; contributor to numerous magazines and food professional guides; and frequent guest on television and radio food shows.