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
Executive Sous Chef Joseph Eggert
Moody Gardens
Executive Pastry Chef Bethany BoeDicker
Moody Gardens
Executive Chef/Owner Edgardo "Rico" Caminos
Riondo’s Ristorante
Chef Trinidad "Machete" Gonzalez
Gordo Niños
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
Whiskey Ambassador Jude Messina, Jr.
Sazerac, Inc.
Other participating restaurants
