Say Grace

Simone Reggie is the Director of Sales & Marketing at French Truck Coffee, where she leads marketing, community relations, and partnerships across the company’s 12 locations. Based in New Orleans, Simone brings over a decade of experience in the food and beverage industry, with a career defined by meaningful relationships and a strong connection to both brands and the communities they serve. Her wor...

Dr. Lilly Jan is a faculty member at Cornell University’s Nolan School of Hotel Administration, where she teaches courses on restaurant design, food and beverage management, and global cuisines. A seasoned educator, consultant, and industry pro, she brings nearly 15 years of hands-on experience in catering, events, retail, and television to her work. Outside the classroom, she specializes in food an...

Andrew Carmellini is the chef and co-founder of NoHo Hospitality Group, which operates celebrated restaurants including Locanda Verde, The Dutch, Lafayette, Carne Mare, and Bar Primi in New York City, as well as multiple establishments in Miami, Detroit, and Nashville. He has become a defining figure in American hospitality and modern Italian and American cuisine, known for creating restaurants that...

Rob Rubba is the chef and founding partner of MICHELIN-starred Oyster Oyster in Washington, D.C. A James Beard Outstanding Chef (2023) and one of Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs (2022), Rob brings over 20 years of experience to his work. A passionate vegetarian and sustainability advocate, he’s created a plant-forward, zero-waste dining experience that highlights Mid-Atlantic ingredients, earning national and international acclaim for...

Debby Soo is a forward-thinking leader reshaping how the restaurant industry engages with technology and advocacy. As CEO of OpenTable since 2020, she has brought a people-first approach to innovation, introducing AI-powered tools, securing major global partnerships, and advocating for legislation to support restaurants against issues such as reservation piracy. Known for her transparency and direct communication style, Debby has b...

Michael Anthony is the Executive Chef and Partner at Gramercy Tavern, one of NYC’s most iconic restaurants. Under his leadership, the restaurant earned a MICHELIN Star and several James Beard Awards, including Outstanding Restaurant and Outstanding Chef. He’s known for championing seasonal, sustainable cooking and shaping modern American cuisine with simplicity and care. Before Gramercy, he led the ...

Jim Irwin is the President of New City, a commercial real estate development firm based in Atlanta. With a career that spans over $1 billion in new investments across the U.S., Jim is known for reshaping urban spaces with purpose and style. Before founding New City, he led the acclaimed redevelopment of Atlanta’s Ponce City Market, one of the largest historic renovations in the country. His latest v...

Ellen Yin is the founder and co-owner of High Street Hospitality Group, a powerhouse in the dining scene with restaurants in Philadelphia, New York, and Washington, D.C. Her portfolio includes acclaimed establishments like Fork, High Street Restaurant & Bakery, a.kitchen+bar, and The Wonton Project. Beyond her restaurants, Yin is committed to community service, supporting organizations like Bakers Against Racism, Everybody Eats Phi...

Randy Garutti is a legendary figure in the restaurant industry, best known for his role as the CEO who transformed Shake Shack from a single hot dog cart in Madison Square Park into a globally recognized fast-casual brand. Under his leadership, the company expanded to more than 500 locations across the world, went public in 2015, and became known not just for its burgers but for its commitment to qu...

Martha Hoover is a pioneering American restaurateur and social entrepreneur, best known for founding Won't Stop Hospitality, a collection of acclaimed restaurant concepts in Indianapolis focused on sustainable, community-driven dining. In 1989, after a career as a sex crimes prosecutor and with no formal culinary training, Martha opened Café Patachou, introducing a new standard of farm-to-table food and hospitality in the Midwest. ...

Stephanie is the editor-in-chief of Eater, a role she’s held since 2022. She leads editorial strategy across more than 20 cities, overseeing writers, editors, and creators. In 2024, she added Punch and Thrillist to her portfolio. Under her leadership, the Eater network has earned 12 James Beard Awards, three National Magazine Awards, and five New York Emmys. Named Adweek’s Editor of the Year in 2024...

Smith Hanes is the founder and creative director of Smith Hanes Studio, an interior design firm he founded in 2004. Based in Atlanta with a second studio in New York, the firm is best known for its work in designing restaurants, boutique hotels, and hospitality spaces with a strong sense of mood and place. Hanes has created some of the South’s most iconic restaurants, building a reputation for warm,...

Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel and Arjav Ezekiel are the husband-and-wife team behind Birdie’s, the nationally acclaimed East Austin restaurant known for its fine-dining-caliber food, counter-service format, and values-driven approach. Tracy is a James Beard finalist with a résumé that includes Blue Hill and Gramercy Tavern, known for her deeply seasonal, ingredient-driven cooking. Arjav, named Esquire’s “W...

Neal Bodenheimer is the Managing Partner of CureCo., the group behind New Orleans’ acclaimed bars Cure, Cane & Table, and VALS, and is a partner in Washington D.C.’s legendary restaurant, Dauphine’s. He also oversees beverage operations at Peychaud’s and serves as Co-Chair of the Board of Directors for Tales of the Cocktail Foundation. A New Orleans native and pioneer of the city’s craft cocktail sc...

Danny Meyer is one of the most influential voices in modern hospitality. As the founder of Union Square Hospitality Group, he’s built some of New York’s most iconic restaurants—including Union Square Cafe and Gramercy Tavern—and turned Shake Shack from a hot dog cart into a $3 billion global phenomenon. A lea...

Based in Houston, Texas, Chris Shepherd and Lindsey Brown are the Co-Founders and husband-and-wife team behind Southern Smoke Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides emergency relief funding, mental health services, and other resources for food and beverage industry workers in n...

Chef and restaurateur Lawrence Weeks channels Southern tradition, global influence, and personal heritage into his Louisville-based restaurants, North of Bourbon and Ensō. A Louisville native, Weeks was drawn to the kitchen at an early age, inspired by his parents’ international travels and...

Based in Austin, TX, André Natera is a best-selling author, public speaker, and host of Chef’s PSA

Celebrated chef, cookbook author, television personality, and restaurateur Vivian Ho...