2023 Talent

Chef Christine Ha

MasterChef Winner, 3x James Beard Finalist, Restaurant Owner of The Blind Goat, Xin Chào, and The Stuffed Belly.

Chef David Cordúa

Chef and Restaurant Owner of Houston’s The Lymbar

Master Sommelier Guy Stout

Texas’ first Master Sommelier              Stout Family Wines

Paul Miller

Founder of Gr8 Plate Hospitality Restaurant Owner of The Union Kitchen, Jax Grill, and Passerella in Houston      Level 2 Sommelier

Chef James Lundy

Gr8 Plate Hospitality            The Union Kitchen, Jax Grill, Passerella in Houston

Executive Chef Chris Lopez

BLVD. Seafood, 25+ Years in the Culinary Industry

Chef WillIam Pickavance

Yaga’s Cafe, 25+ Years in the Culinary Industry

Andres CastAneda

Moody Gardens

WWII Navy Veteran Eddie Janek

Guest Speaker at the Freedom Stories Bourbon Tasting

LtCol, United States Marine Corps Veteran Neil Murphy

Guest Speaker at the Freedom Stories Bourbon Tasting

Whiskey Ambassador Kayla Quigley

James B. Beam Distillery

Other participating restaurants