Chef Ming Tsai is an Iron Chef, James Beard and Emmy Award-Winner, Chef/Partner at BaBa at Yellowstone Club in Big Sky, President of the National Advisory Board for Family Reach, and author of five cookbooks. He was host and executive producer of the longest-running cooking series on PBS, Simply Ming.
Doug Psaltis is a Michelin star chef and restaurateur with esteemed restaurants in Chicago. He is well respected for his unwavering dedication to sourcing the best products in the world. His Basque-inspired steakhouse, Asador Bastian was recently named 14th best steak restaurant in the world.
Norman Van Aken is known for introducing the term “Fusion” into the vocabulary of global cuisine. He is the only Floridian Chef recipient of the James Beard Foundation’s “Who’s Who”. He’s been a semifinalist for the “Best Chef in America”, and NORMAN’S was nominated as a finalist for “Best Restaurant in America”.
Camilo Velasco was born and raised in Cali, Colombia. While attending school in the United States, Velasco joined the team at Orlando’s AAA Five Diamond Award-winning restaurant, Victoria and Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa where he trained directly under James Beard Award-nominee, Chef Scott Hunnel. After some time, he then moved on to NORMAN’S at the Ritz Carlton Grand Lakes to work under the direction of James Beard Award-winning Chef Norman Van Aken.
Before Paola Velez was a culinary diplomat for the United States and a founder of the Bakers Against Racism viral bake sale, she was a chocolatier at Jacques Torres’ Brooklyn chocolate shop. She then moved to Washington, D.C. to work with Christina Tosi at Milk Bar, and has since cooked in some of the city’s most acclaimed kitchens.
Mark Weber is a globally experienced Executive Chef and Culinary Operator with a demonstrated history of working in the hospitality industry. In his role, Mark is instrumental in developing menu concepts and enhancing the food and beverage experience at Marcus Hotels and Resorts’ more than 40 signature restaurants, bars and lounges.
Andrew Zimmern is an Emmy-winning and four-time James Beard Award-winning TV personality, chef, writer and passionate global citizen. He is the creator, executive producer and host of the Bizarre Foods franchise, Andrew Zimmern’s Driven by Food, What’s Eating America, Emmy-nominated Family Dinner and the Emmy-winning The Zimmern List.