The 2026 Hospitality Gala Chefs
Ford Fry
Chef and CEO
Rocket Farms Restaurants
Andrew Litherland
Executive Chef
Waldorf Astoria Osaka
Rob McDaniel
Owner & Head Chef
Helen
Frank Stitt
Owner & Executive Chef
Highlands Bar and Grill, Bottega Restuarant, Bottega Cafe and Chez Fon Fon
Hope van der Riet
Student Chef
Horst Schulze School of Hospitality Management
Riley Tallent
Student Chef
Horst Schulze School of Hospitality Management
Jana Earp
Student Chef
Horst Schulze School of Hospitality Management
Paige Rohman
Student Chef
Horst Schulze School of Hospitality Management
2026 Culinary Class
The Hospitality Gala Prior Chefs
Silvia Baracchi
Owner & Head Chef
Food & Beverage Operations
Il Falconier
Food & Beverage Operations
Il Falconier
Joshua Cain
General Manager
New Realm
New Realm
Marcus Repp
Corporate Director of Food & Beverage
Noble House Hotels & Resorts
Noble House Hotels & Resorts
Roy Hendrickson
Executive Chef
Noble House Hotels & Resorts
Noble House Hotels & Resorts
Laura Cottler
Executive Pastry Chef
Bowie House, Auberge Resorts Collection
Bowie House, Auberge Resorts Collection
Ford Fry
Chef and CEO
Rocket Farm Restaurants
Rocket Farm Restaurants
Zane Holmquist
Vice President
Food & Beverage Operations, Corporate Chef
Food & Beverage Operations, Corporate Chef
Stein Eriksen Lodge
J Rob
Entrepreneurial Chef
Owner of Rockstar Kitchen
Owner of Rockstar Kitchen
Chris Hathcock
Executive Chef
Husk Savannah
Husk Savannah
Pablo Penalosa Najera
Executive Chef
Skyfire
Bishop’s Lodge, Auberge Resorts Collection
Skyfire
Bishop’s Lodge, Auberge Resorts Collection
Gustavo Rios
Executive Chef
Solbar
Solage, Auberge Resorts Collection
Solbar
Solage, Auberge Resorts Collection
David & Tonya Thomas
Co-Executive Chefs
H3irloom Food Group
H3irloom Food Group
Derek Dollar
Executive Chef
Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails
Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails
Tyler Lyne
Executive Chef
Tasting TBL
Tasting TBL
Dallas McGarity
Executive Chef & Owner
The Fat Lamb Modern Kitchen & Bar
The Fat Lamb Modern Kitchen & Bar
Susana Querejazu
Executive Pastry Chef
Lutie’s Restaurant & Commodore Perry Estate
Lutie’s Restaurant & Commodore Perry Estate
Katsuji Tanabe
Executive Chef
A'Verde
A'Verde
Joe Beck
Executive Chef
Susan Gage Caterers
Susan Gage Caterers
Drew Belline
Vice President of Creative
Ford Fry Restaurants
Ford Fry Restaurants
Ford Fry
Chef and Managing Partner
Ford Fry Restaurants
Ford Fry Restaurants
Tom Ramsey
Louisiana Food Prize
Shreveport, LA
Shreveport, LA
Damon Wise
Vice President
Ford Fry Restaurants
Ford Fry Restaurants
Kyle Knall
Chef, Maysville
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
Erik Niel
Chef Easy Bistro
Chattanooga, TN
Chattanooga, TN
Alex Harrell
Chef & Owner, Angeline
New Orleans, LA
New Orleans, LA
Antony Osborne
National Dean of Culinary & Hospitality Programs
Education Corp of America
Birmingham, AL
Matt Bolus
Chef, The 404 Kitchen
Nashville, TN
Nashville, TN
Donnie Ferneau
Executive Chef, 1836 Club
Little Rock, AR
Little Rock, AR
Lee Styer
Executive Chef, FOND
Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia, PA
David Campbell
Executive Pastry Chef, The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds Plantation
Lake Oconee, GA
Andrew Litherland
Executive Chef, The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds Plantation
Lake Oconee, GA
Yehuda Sichel
Chef, Abe Fisher,
Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia, PA
Adam Evans
Chef/Partner, Brezza Cucina
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta, GA
Michel Nischan
Owner/Founder, Dressing Room
Westport, CT
Westport, CT
Kim Wiss
Winery Chef, Antica Napa Valley
Napa, CA
Napa, CA
Jose Chesa
Chef & Proprietor, Ataula
Portland, OR
Portland, OR
Shaun Hergat
Executive Chef & Partner, JUNI
New York, NY
New York, NY
Dallas Marsteller
Executive Pastry Chef, The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta, GA
Marco Bustamante
Executive Chef, Capella Pedregal
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Sean O’Toole
Chef & Proprietor, TORC
Napa, CA
Napa, CA
Kevin Sbraga
Chef & Proprietor, Sbraga Dining
Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia, PA
Adam Thomas
Executive Pastry Chef, The Broadmoor
Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs, CO
Christian Rassinoux
Executive Chef, The MGM Grand
Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas, NV
Stephane Chevet
Chef, Shibuya
Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas, NV
Tim Creehan
Chef & Proprietor, Cuvee Bistro
Destin, FL
Destin, FL
Gunter Seeger
Chef & Restaurateur, Gunter Seeger NY
New York, NY
New York, NY
Santosh Tiptur
Executive Pastry Chef, Co.Co Sala
Washington D.C.
Washington D.C.
Jean-Pierre Dubray
Executive Chef, The Resort at Pelican Hill
Newport Coast, CA
Newport Coast, CA
Odette Fada
Chef Consultant, Odette Fada
New York, NY
New York, NY
Michael Schwartz
Chef & Proprietor, Michael’s Genuine Food
Miami, FL
Miami, FL
Tracy Griffith
Executive Chef, Origami Foods
Stockton, CA
Stockton, CA
Ford Fry
Chef/Owner, JCT Kitchen
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta, GA
Andrew Litherland
Executive Chef, The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds Plantation
Lake Oconee, GA
Kenny Gilbert
Chef/Owner, Underground Kitchen
Fernandina Beach, FL
Fernandina Beach, FL
John Ellis
Exécutive Chef, Hotel Crillon Le Brave
Paris, France
Paris, France
Marco Bustamante
Executive Chef, Capella Pedregal
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
The Hospitality Gala Local Chefs
David Bancroft
Chef & Propritoe
Ace Restaurant
Leo Maurelli III '03
Director of Culinary Operations
The Hotel at Auburn University
