alumni
Tastemaker
Karen Akunowicz
Chef & Restaurant Owner
Title
Fox & the Knife | Bar Volpe | Fox Pasta Co. | Crave: Bold Recipes That Make You Want Seconds
Craft
Tastemaker
Julia Coney
Wine Writer, Educator & Consultant
Title
Black Wine Professionals | American Airlines | Métier
Craft
Julia Coney is a Washington, D.C. and Houston, Texas-based wine writer, wine educator, speaker, and consultant. Her wine writing for VinePair, The New York Times, Wine Enthusiast, Forbes.com and The Tasting Panel includes stories on wine, winemakers, and the intersection of race, wine, and language. Julia is the recipient of Wine Enthusiast’s 2020 Social Visionary Award Winner and Founder of Black Wine Professionals.
Tastemaker
David Viana
Executive Chef
Title
Heirloom Kitchen | Lita | Heirloom at The St. Laurent
Craft
David Viana turned his early love of food cultivate by afternoons he spent with his grandmother, Isaura, into a storied career, rising through the ranks at Eleven Madis Park, Marea and Villa Joya to be nominated as Best Chef Mid Atlantic by The James Beard Foundation shortly after competing on Top Chef. Today David is at the helm of three acclaimed restaurant concepts Heirloom Kitchen, Heirloom Kitchen at The St Laurent and Lita.
Tastemaker
Neilly Robinson
Restauranteur & Managing Director
Title
Heirloom Kitchen | Lita | Heirloom Kitchen at The St Laurent
Craft
A self-taught entrepreneur, Neilly founded Heirloom Kitchen- the group’s first restaurant- in 2013 with her mom, Judy. Today Heirloom Kitchen has grown into one of the east coast’s most beloved restaurants and Neilly has added Heirloom at The St. Laurent in Asbury Park and Lita, a Modern Iberian restaurant to her and David’s acclaimed restaurant group.
Tastemaker
Ron Duprat
Chef & Author
Title
Amarillo Golf and Country Club | My Journey of Cooking
Craft
Chef Ron Duprat is best known as one of the top competitors on Bravo TV’s “Top Chef”and Iron Chef Huffington Post recognized him as one of 10 Black Chefs That Are Changing the Food World and he has prepared amazing meals for President and First Lady Obama, Jay Z and Beyoncé’, Usher, and many more. He is the author of ‘My Journey of cooking’ and an expert on Afro-Caribbean cuisine.
Tastemaker
Sarah Thomas
Sommelier & Author
Title
Kalamata’s Kitchen
Craft
A former sommelier at acclaimed NYC restaurant Le Bernardin, Sarah Thomas is now the co-founder at Kalamata’s Kitchen, bringing together her passions for both food and books. During her time at Le Bernardin, she led wine education, and was featured in the popular “Somm” film series. At Kalamata’s Kitchen, Sarah hopes to create a confident character that other children of color can see themselves in, while encouraging kids to look at different foods and cultures with a sense of curiosity and compassion.
Tastemaker
Anastacia Quiñones-Pittman
Executive Chef
Title
José
Craft
Seasoned culinary innovator and James Beard semi-finalist Anastacia Quiñones Pittman, is the Executive Chef at José restaurant. A first-generation Mexican-American, Chef AQ, as she is known, brings over 17 years of acclaimed culinary experience to produce regionally inspired dishes from Jalisco, Oaxaca, Mexico City and beyond. She was named Best Chef of the Year 2018 for Eater Dallas and was featured on the Netflix series, “The Taco Chronicles”
Tastemaker
Cameron Grant
Executive Chef & Partner
Title
Osteria Langhe
Craft
The beginning of Chef Grant’s culinary adventure started in Scotland, his childhood home, where he grew up on Scottish meals and learned the principles of cooking from his mother. Chef Grant started working in the food service industry in 1998 and has never turned back. He served as Executive Chef of several restaurants including Laudisio Ristorante in Colorado and Profumo Divino in Treiso, Italy. Grant believes in the philosophy that meals create conversation, and through his cooking, hopes to spark a dialogue surrounding Osteria Langhe’s Piemontese cuisine and background.
Tastemaker
Ana Fabiano
Award-Winning Author & Wine Expert
Title
The Wine Region of Rioja
Craft
An expert in Riojan culture, heritage, and tradition, Ana Fabiano is best known for her award winning book, The Wine Region of Rioja. Building upon her 30 years of expertise in the Spanish wine industry, including the creation of RiojaTrade, Ana has passionately researched and traveled extensively through the wine country of Spain. Ana is recognized and respected as a Rioja expert inside and outside the DOCa of Rioja.
Tastemaker
Elizabeth Falkner
Award-Winning Chef, Author & Documentarian
Title
Sorry, We’re Closed
Craft
Chef Elizabeth Falkner is an award-winning chef, a leader and pioneer in food, culinary, and film. A fierce competitor, Elizabeth has appeared on Top Chef Masters, Food Network’s Tournament of Champions and Iron Chef America. Elizabeth has opened numerous restaurants over the past 25 years, published two acclaimed cookbooks and created an award-winning documentary “Sorry We’re Closed,” Elizabeth also serves on the James Beard Foundations Board of Trustees.
Tastemaker
Johnny Livanos
Gin Creator & Third-Generation Restauranteur
Title
Stray Dog Wild Gin | Livanos Restaurant Group
Craft
Johnny is a third generation Greek-American restaurateur, part of a proud New York family that owns and runs several acclaimed venues including Oceana, Molyvos, Ousia, Moderne Barn and City Limits. Johnny is also the founder of Stray Dog Wild Gin inspired by the untouched mountains in northern Greece and made with a unique blend of wild botanicals native to Greece’s hills and mountains.
Tastemaker
Teresa Montaño
Chef & Owner
Title
Otoño
Craft
Teresa Montaño is the chef/owner of LA based restaurant, Otoño. Otoño represents Montaño’s progressive approach to Spanish cuisine, offering a culturally inspired environ focusing on the flavors of Spain told through the sustainable, locally sourced ingredients, and unique tastes of L.A. Her restaurants have been listed on the L.A. Times’ “101 Best Restaurants” and the World’s 50 Best Restaurants Discovery Series.
Tastemaker
Aldo Zaninotto
Restauranteur & Wine Expert
Title
Osteria Langhe | Testaccio | Soif
Craft
Raised between Belgium and Italy, Aldo Zaninotto spent much of his time growing up at his father’s Italian restaurant in the heart of brussels. After a decade of experience working and training in some of the finest dining restaurants Aldo found himself in Chicago where he went on to open two acclaimed restaurants Osteria Langhe inspired by Piedmont, and Roman inspired Testaccio along with a local favorite wine bar Soif.