Participating Chefs

• Franklin Barbecue
  Austin, TX

Kudos: James Beard Award Best Chef: Southwest, Texas Monthly #1 Barbecue Restaurant in Texas

• website

• APL Restaurant
  Los Angeles, CA

Served time at: Restaurant Daniel, Daisy May's BBQ, Carnevino Las Vegas, Barbecoa London

Kudos: Being a Dad, First place at American Royal Invitational Pork Shoulder 2005 , BBQ Hall of Fame 2013

• website

• The Country Cat
  Portland, OR

Served time at: Wildwood Restaurant

Kudos: James Beard Award Best Chef: Northwest Semi-finalist 2012-2014, Food Network Chopped Season 23 Winner

• website

• Austin, TX

Served time at: Maiya's, Elizabeth Street Cafe, Jeffrey's and Josephine House

Kudos: Bon Appétit Top 10 Best New Restaurants 2013, praise from Diana Kennedy about her dinner while working as the Executive Chef at Bufalina

• Contigo
  Austin, TX

Served time at: Angele, La Toque

Kudos: Dad of the year (from my wife), Most Handsome (from my mom), Funniest human alive (self proclaimed)

• website

• Pok Pok
  Portland, OR

Served time at: Chez Moustache, Vendetta's, Del-Cor Pizza, Calamity Jane's

Kudos: Thailand Culinary Ambassador, James Beard Award Best Chef: Northwest 2011, LaMoille Union High School 4th Place Cross Country Race

• website

• Salt and Time
  Austin, TX

Served time at: The Fatted Calf

Kudos: Southern Living Magazine 50 People Shaping the South 2015

• website

• Odd Duck
  Austin, TX

Served time at: Barley Swine, Odd Duck

Kudos: James Beard Best Chef: Southwest Finalist 2011-2017, Food & Wine Best New Chef 2011

• website

• Holy Roller
  Austin, TX

Served time at: Parkside, Swift's Attic, Hotel Van Zandt

Kudos: Food & Wine People's Best Pastry Chef nominee 2013, Culturemap Austin Pastry Chef of the Year, 2015

• The Hightower
  Austin, TX

Served time at: The Hightower, El Arbol

Kudos: Texas Monthly Best New Restaurants

• website

• Underbelly
  Houston, TX

Served time at: Brennan's of Houston, Catalan Food and Wine

Kudos: James Beard Award Best Chef: Southwest, Food & Wine Best New Chef

• website

• Full Custom Gospel BBQ
  Dallas, TX

Served time at: The Mill Restaurant at Buehler's Fresh Foods, O'Henry's, Casa de Vaughn

Kudos: 2 National Magazine Award nominations, Won the Barbecue Editor of Texas Monthly Sweepstakes

• website

• Second Bar + Kitchen
  Austin, TX

Served time at: Congress, Driskill Grill at The Driskill

Kudos: Food & Wine “Best New Chefs” 2003, James Beard Best New Chef: Southwest Nominee 2011, 2013

• website

• Easy Tiger
  Austin, TX

Served time at: Bouley Bakery, Grand Central Bakery, French Culinary Institute, TriBakery

Kudos: Dessert Professional Top Ten Bread Bakers in America, Sunset Magazine Best Sourdough in the West

• website

• Mixtli
  San Antonio, TX

Served time at: Azul Condesa, Atelier Crenn, Moto, Rico Caters

Kudos: Food & Wine Best New Chef 2017, featured in Texas Monthly, USA Today, Travel Channel

• website

• Olympia Provisions
  Portland, OR

Served time at: Stumps Alpenrose Wildhause, Castagna, Olympia Provisions

Kudos: 12 Good Food Awards, 2 Sophie Awards

• website

• L'Oca d'Oro
  Austin, TX

Served time at: Gramercy Tavern, Roberta's, Franklin BBQ

Kudos: Eater Austin Chef of the Year 2016, "Most Fashionable" Troy High School Senior Class 1997, Eater Austin Best New Restaurant 2016

• website

• Toups’ Meatery, Toups South
  New Orleans, LA

Served time at: Delmonico, Toups' Meatery, Toups South

Kudos: James Beard Best Chef South nominee 2014, 2015, 2016 & 2017, Eater Best Chef Nola 2014

• website

• Ivan Ramen
  New York, NY

Served time at: Coming soon

Kudos: Coming soon

• website

• Play Dough Pop Up
  Austin, TX

Served time at: Del Posto, Per Se, la V, Daniel, W Austin

Kudos: James Beard Rising Star Chef Semi-Finalist 2013, Eater Pastry Chef of the Year 2015, Culturemap 10 Best Pastry Chefs 2016

• Jason Dady Restaurants
  San Antonio, TX

Served time at: Stars Bar and Dining, Beringer Estate Winery, Joe's Crab Shack

Kudos: Express News Best Chef San Antonio, James Beard Outstanding Restaurateur Semi-Finalist 2012

• website

• Boiler Nine Bar + Grill
  Austin, TX

Served time at: Second Bar + Kitchen, The Crossings, Lake Austin Spa Resort

Kudos: NACE Culinary Excellence Award 2009, Food Network Chopped Champion 2013

• website

• Jeffrey's
  Austin, TX

Served time at: Lambert's, Perla's, Elizabeth Street Cafe, Josephine House

Kudos: Executive Pastry Chef for McGuire Moorman Hospitalities, loving mother of 2 dogs, 14 hens, and 1 evil rooster

• website

• Dai Due
  Austin, TX

Served time at: Vespaio, Tocai

Kudos: Bon Appétit Best New Restaurants in America 2016, James Beard Book Awards Finalist 2013

• website

• Knife at The Highland Dallas
  Dallas, TX

Served time at: Mansion on Turtle Creek, RM Seafood, Spoon, Knife

Kudos: Four-time James Beard nominated, Esquire Best New Restaurants in America for Spoon and Knife

• website

• Ava Gene's
  Portland, OR

Served time at: Franny's, Lupa, Momofuku, Blue Hill

Kudos: James Beard Best Chef: Northwest Nominee, Bon Appétit Best New Restaurants

• website

• Momofuku
  New York, NY

Served time at: Momofuku Nishi, Ko, Maverick, Lafitte

Kudos: Coming Soon

• website

• Old Major
  Denver, CO

Served time at: Denver Bacon Company, Masterpiece Delicatessen

Kudos: Bon Appétit Top 50 New Restaurants 2013, Eater Denver Restaurant of the Year 2013, Westword Readers Choice Best Chef 2014

• website

• Emmer & Rye
  Austin, TX

Served time at: 13 Gobbi, Noma, French Laundry

Kudos: Food & Wine Best New Chef 2016, Bon Appétit Top 50 Best New Restaurant 2016

• website

• Weather Up
  Austin, TX

Served time at: Jeffrey's, Comerc 24

Kudos: I beat Bobby Flay

• website

• Two Bros BBQ Market
  San Antonio, TX

Served time at: Two Bros BBQ Market, B&D Icehouse, Tre Trattoria

Kudos: Working my way up at Two Bros when very few thought I could

• website

• Launderette
  Austin, TX

Served time at: Craftbar, La Condesa, Sway

Kudos: Food & Wine Best New Pastry Chef 2012, James Beard Outstanding Pastry Chef Semifinalist 2013, 2016 and 2017

• website

• JuiceLand
  Austin, TX

Served time at: Coming soon

Kudos: "Best Smoothie"- Austin Fit Magazine 2012-2016, "Best Healthy Lunch"- Austin 360 and City Search, "Best Feel Good Meal"- Do512 Best in Austin 2016 Survey

• website

• Momofuku
  New York, NY

Served time at: Daniel, Vetri, Cru

Kudos: Being a die hard Philadelphia sports fan no matter how much they suck

• website

• Olamaie
  Austin, TX

Served time at: Abacus, Per Se, Lincoln, Son of a Gun

Kudos: Food & Wine Best New Chef 2015, Austin American Statesman #1 2015, James Beard Best New Restaurant Semi-Finalist 2014

• website

• Central Standard
  Austin, TX

Served time at: Proof On Main, Lucca, Café No Sé/Central Standard

Kudos: Bon Appétit Top 50 Best New Restaurants 2012, Austin Monthly Best New Restaurant 2016, Texas Monthly The 50 Greatest Burgers in Texas 2016

• website

• Valentina's Tex Mex BBQ
  Austin, TX

Served time at: Ranch 616, Fish 54

Kudos: Texas Monthly Top Tacos in Texas & The Top 25 New and Improved BBQ Joints in Texas, YETI Brand Ambassador

• website

• Nong's Khao Man Gai
  Portland, OR

Served time at: Pok Pok

Kudos: Food Network Chopped Season 21 Winner

• website

• Han Oak
  Portland, OR

Served time at: Spotted Pig, The Breslin

Kudos: James Beard Best New Restaurant nomination 2017, Food & Wine Best New Chef 2017, Eater Best New Restaurant award

• website

• Bonhomie
  Austin, TX

Served time at: Uchi, Bank Jean-Georges, Jean Luc's Bistro

Kudos: James Beard Best Pastry Chef Nominee 2012, 2014, StarChefs Rising Pastry Chef 2012

• website

• Fluff Bake Bar
  Houston, TX

Served time at: Le Bristol Hotel, Daniel, The Red Cat

Kudos: Southern Living Best Bakeries in the South, Food & Wine Best Cupcakes in the US

• website

• Launderette
  Austin, TX

Served time at: La Condesa, Sway, La Esquina

Kudos: James Beard Best Chef: Southwest Nominee, James Beard Best New Restaurant Finalist 2016

• website

• Kogi BBQ Truck
  Los Angeles, CA

Served time at: Coming Soon

Kudos: Coming Soon

• website

• Kismet
  Los Angeles, CA

Served time at: Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Glasserie, Madcapra

Kudos: Food & Wine Best New Chef 2017

• website

• Épicerie
  Austin, TX

Served time at: Bouchon, Ad Hoc

Kudos: Austin Woman - December 2014, Zagat 30 Under 30

• website

• Geraldine's
  Austin, TX

Served time at: Epicerie, The Driskill Grill, Odd Duck

Kudos: Coming soon

• website

• Cured
  San Antonio, Texas

Served time at: Restaurant August, La Provence, Lüke

Kudos: James Beard Best Chef: Southwest Nominee 2016, Esquire Best New Restaurant Runner-up 2014, Bon Appétit Best New Restaurants in America 2014

• website

• Kemuri Tatsu-ya
  Austin, TX

Served time at: Urasawa, Musashino Sushi Dokoro

Kudos: Bon Appétit Best New Restaurants in America, Time Out Best Ramen in America

• website

• LENOIR
  Austin, TX

Served time at: Danube, Tabla

Kudos: Statesman #1 Restaurant in Austin, Bon Appétit 50 Best New Restaurants 2012

• website

• Hai Hospitality
  Austin, TX

Served time at: Musashino, Uchi

Kudos: Food & Wine Best New Chef 2005, James Beard Award Best Chef: Southwest 2011, James Beard Semi-Finalist Outstanding Chef 2016

• website

• Otoko
  Austin, TX

Served time at: Uchi, Uchiko, Qui, East Side King

Kudos: Texas Monthly Where to Eat Now 2017, Austin Monthly Best New Restaurant 2016

• website

• The Brewer's Table
  Austin, TX

Served time at: Mugaritz, Atera, Uchi, Qui

Kudos: One of twelve Chef de Cuisine's featured at The Future of American Food conference at Grace, Executive Chef of The Brewer's Table, Imbibe 75 list for 2017

• website