ilani Wine & Food Festival

Maneet Chauhan is an award-winning chef, author, television personality and founding partner and president of Morph Hospitality Group in Nashville, Tennessee. She is a recipient of the 2012 James Beard Foundation Broadcast Media Award for her role as a permanent judge on Food Network’s “Chopped.” In addition to judging roles on Food Network, Maneet also competes at the highest level and most recently won Guy Fieri's Tournament of Champions II, where she was able to donate winnings of $40,000 to help different restaurants survive the pandemic.

Born in Punjab, India, chef Chauhan worked in some of the country’s finest hotels before moving to the U.S. to study at the Culinary Institute of America. She went on to work as executive chef in some of New York City and Chicago’s top restaurants, which received national acclaim under her leadership. After relocating to Nashville, Tennessee, Chauhan and her husband, Vivek Deora, co-founded Morph Hospitality Group, opening their first restaurant, Chauhan Ale & Masala House in 2014. With the goal of filling gaps in Nashville’s culinary landscape, the group opened Tansuo, a Chinese concept, and The Mockingbird, a global diner, in 2017, and Chaatable, a nostalgic Indian street food concept in 2018. Chef Chauhan is also a co-founder of Hop Springs, home to the state’s largest craft brewery and a fun-filled 84 acre beer park located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Chauhan is the author of two cookbooks, Flavors of My World and her most recent, Chaat: The Best Recipes from the Kitchens, Markets, and Railways of India, which was released in October 2020. Published by Clarkson Potter, the book was inspired by Maneet's epic cross-country railroad expedition that brought her to local markets, street vendors and the homes of family & friends. Chaat has been recognized as one of Fall 2020’s most anticipated cookbooks and has appeared in the New York Times, Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure, Martha Stewart Living, Saveur, Food Network Magazine, and more.

A leader in the Nashville community, Chauhan has been honored as one of the Nashville Business Journal’s “40 under 40”, which highlights young, successful business leaders and was recognized in Nashville Lifestyles’ Women in Business, which showcases local women who are at the top of their respective industries. In March 2020, Chauhan founded Hospitality Strong, a nonprofit benefitting hospitality workers in need and currently serves as an advisory board member for Nashville's COVID-19 Response Fund, founded to assist individuals, families and nonprofits experiencing financial hardship due to the virus.

When she’s not in the kitchen or traveling, chef Chauhan can be found at home in Franklin, Tennessee, with her husband, Vivek Deora, their daughter, Shagun, and their son, Karma.

Marcus Samuelsson is the renowned chef behind many restaurants worldwide including Red Rooster in Harlem (NYC) and Overtown (MIA); Hav & Mar in Chelsea (NYC); Metropolis at PAC-NYC; Marcus Bar & Grille (ATL) and its Live! flagship at American Dream (NJ); and several MARCUS locations including the Bahamas, Montreal and most recently Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Samuelsson was the youngest person to receive a three-star review from The New York Times and was the guest chef for the Obama Administration’s first state dinner. He has won eight James Beard Foundation Awards and recently won a 2023 Emmy Award for the Short Form Program “My Mark.” Samuelsson hosted the critically acclaimed No Passport Required on PBS. Additionally, Samuelsson has won numerous competition shows including Top Chef Masters and Chopped All-Stars and appears regularly on those franchises as a Judge. He also recently appeared as an Iron Chef on Netflix’s Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend. Samuelsson also hosted and produced the Seat at the Table on Audible and co-hosted This Moment podcast with Swedish rapper Timbuktu on ACAST.

A committed philanthropist, Samuelsson is co-chair of Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP), which focuses on helping underserved youth. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Samuelsson converted his restaurants Red Rooster Harlem and Red Rooster Overtown into community kitchens in partnership with World Central Kitchen, serving well over 280k meals to those in need. In Newark, Samuelsson’s Marcus B&P partnered with Audible and World Central Kitchen to create Newark Working Kitchens, which has engaged 37 local restaurants to provide 1.5 million meals to those in need. Samuelsson also co-produces the annual Harlem EatUp! Festival, which celebrates the food, art, and culture of Harlem. He is the author of several cookbooks, the New York Times bestselling memoir Yes, Chef: A Memoir and his latest book, The Rise: Black Cooks and the Soul of American Food.

Follow Samuelsson on Instagram, Facebook, and X at @MarcusCooks and on TikTok at @Marcus_Cooks.

Host of Alex Vs America and the upcoming Wild Card Kitchen on Food Network, Eric Adjepong is a network favorite and rising superstar. First-generation Ghanaian-American, Chef Eric Adjepong was born and raised in New York City. He is passionate about introducing West African cuisine to the mainstream culinary conversation, alongside the impact its diaspora has had on South American, Latin American, Caribbean, and American food. After graduating with degrees in Culinary Arts & Nutrition from Johnson & Wales, Eric went on to obtain his Masters of Public Health in International Public Health & Nutrition from the University of Westminster in London. From there, he cooked in several Michelin-starred restaurants before taking his talents to Top Chef. He was a finalist on season 16, and competed on Top Chef All-Stars. Now, you can catch him across Food Network, with appearances on Selena + Chef, Chopped, Guy’s Grocery Games, Supermarket Stakeout, Tournament of Champions, and more. He has partnered with brands such as AYO Foods, Bowery, Tanqueray, and works with charitable organizations like Save the Children. Eric’s first children’s book, Sankofa: A Culinary Story of Resilience and Belonging, was published by Penguin Workshop in 2023, and he is currently penning his debut cookbook with Clarkson Potter, set to release in 2024.

Damaris Phillips is a celebrity chef and Food Network host known for her modern twists on Southern and Classic Comfort Foods. After formal culinary training, Damaris continued her education in restaurant kitchen from New York to Seattle, Kentucky to Louisiana working under acclaimed chefs and restauranteurs to hone her skills.

Since winning Season 9 Food Network Star in 2013, Damaris has hosted numerous shows on the Food Network. Currently, she is the host of Outrageous Pumpkins and cast on Summer Baking Championship. She co hosts and judges several other Food Network shows including Beat Bobby Flay, Guy's Grocery Games, Supermarket Stakeout, and Wild Card Kitchen. She is a regular guest on The Today Show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, and Good Morning America.

In 2019 she co-founded Bluegrass Supper Club, a designer picnic company that celebrates Kentucky farmers, harvests and culture. Her first cookbook, Southern Girl Meets Vegetarian Boy was released in October 2017. Her Second Cookbook, Gussied Up is set to release spring, 2025.

Rocco DiSpirito is a healthy lifestyle crusader, James Beard award-winning chef, and highly acclaimed author of thirteen books, including five New York Times bestsellers. He is recognized for his inspiring weight loss journey and has dedicated his life to proving that healthy and delicious are not mutually exclusive. He is hailed as an inspiring health expert and is often called upon to speak at events, such as the Partnership for a Healthier America summit in Washington, D.C. DiSpirito’s love of food began at a young age, learning from Mama who could make magnificent dishes using only a handful of real foods. His passion for cooking led him to study at the Culinary Institute of America and Boston University. By the time he turned 20 years old, he was working in the kitchens of legendary chefs around the globe. His 3-Star restaurant Union Pacific was a New York City culinary landmark for many years., DiSpirito has appeared on celebrity chef Guy Fieri's Guy's Grocery Games - Superstar Tournament Part 1, competing against other celebrity chefs for a $40,000 first prize donated to their chosen charity. DiSpirito made it to the finale and beat out the previous tournament winner Iron Chef Alex Guarnaschelli DiSpirito has appeared on Guy's Grocery Games and has also appeared on Tournament of Champions, both which are hosted by his friend Guy Fieri. He has also made appearances on Guy's Ranch Kitchen.

Aarti Sequeira is an esteemed ambassador for the California Date Commission, a role that perfectly complements her deep appreciation for wholesome, nutritious foods. A firm believer that life is most full when it involves faith, food, and family, Aarti has made it her mission to share the joys of cooking with the world.

In her latest book, "Unwind: A Devotional Cookbook For The Harried and Hungry," Aarti invites readers back into the kitchen and encourages the intentionality of dinnertime spent at the table. With her distinct laugh and joyful presence, Aarti Sequeira is a sought-after television host, cookbook author, influencer, commentator, and judge. A mainstay on Food Network after winning season six of Food Network Star, Aarti is also known as "The Spice Queen" due to her comprehensive knowledge of spices.

In addition to hosting her own cooking show, Aarti Party, she also serves as a judge on hit shows like Holiday Wars, Halloween Wars, Guy Fieri’s Best Bite in Town, Candy Land, Great Food Truck Race, Luda Can't Cook (feat. Ludacris), Guy's Grocery Games, Supermarket Stakeout, and Christmas Cookie Challenge. She’s appeared on Chopped, Beat Bobby Flay, Cutthroat Kitchen. She cooks alongside the country's best chefs on Guy's Ranch Kitchen. Off-network appearances include teaching Ms. Gomez how to cook on Selena + Chef (HBO Max) and voicing Chef Shobha in Disney Jr's Mira, Royal Detective.

A gifted writer, Aarti published her first cookbook, "Aarti Paarti: An American Kitchen with an Indian Soul," in. She has also penned a nationally syndicated column for the Associated Press entitled "World's Fare."

Born in India, raised in Dubai, and educated in a British school, Aarti grew up amidst a varied tapestry of food cultures. She lives in Raleigh, NC with her husband, actor Brendan McNamara, and daughters Eliyah and Moses.

Chef Adrianne Calvo (over 1.2 million followers on social media) is an award-winning Miami based restaurateur, best-selling cookbook author, Emmy-nominated YouTube show host and podcaster known for her signature “Maximum Flavor” style. Her restaurants, Chef Adrianne’s Vineyard Restaurant and Bar is a staple of must-eat-destination lists, and her popularity on Goldbelly spurred the upcoming launch of her online shop Baked by Chef Adrianne.

Adrianne’s high-energy, joyful approach to cooking and travel has garnered her over a million followers on Instagram, and when not creating in the kitchen or in front of the cameras, she pours her heart and soul into the Make It Count Foundation, a non-profit that she started in honor of her late sister Jennifer.

Cooking Up a Culinary Empire
Adrianne originally wanted to be a journalist; however, after a scheduling mix-up at her Miami high school, she was placed in a cooking class rather than a journalism class. But a visit from the culinary department of Johnson & Wales University to her high school changed the course of her life, fueling her determination to become a chef.

While attending Johnson & Wales, Adrianne won many culinary competitions, and after graduating, with the publication of Maximum Flavor, she became the youngest cookbook author (at that time) ever. The book marked her first step into the media spotlight, landing her an appearance on The Montel Williams Show, and five additional cookbooks followed – Driven by Flavor, Fueled by Fire; #MaximumFlavorSocial; Play with Fire; and The A List, a two-volume work.

In 2007, at the age of 22, she opened her first restaurant, Chef Adrianne’s Vineyard Restaurant and Bar, in Miami. Inspired by a trip to Napa Valley when she was 18, the restaurant brings a relaxed atmosphere to fine dining, and offers a truly unique “Dark Dining” experience once a month, in which guests are taken on the ultimate sensory experience while suppressing the sense of sight during their meal. Chef Adrianne’s also features Adrianne’s signature line of wine, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon by Adrianne, which is grown and aged in the same vineyards that inspired her namesake restaurant.

Soon after Chef Adrianne’s opened, accolades quickly followed including Miami New Times Best Restaurant, Miami New Times Best Chef, Best Chef for the Floridian Culinary Awards, Thrillist’s 50 Things to Eat Before You Die and 10 Totally Unique Restaurants in America and the 9 Most Romantic Restaurants published by Zagat. Chef Adrianne is also the youngest person to cook for the United Nations and its ambassadors.

Chef Adrianne also has a thriving online business through Goldbelly that ships fan-favorites like French onion soup, short ribs, delicious pastries and desserts nationwide that are all made at her newest endeavor, Baked by Chef Adrianne.

Beyond the Kitchen
Adrianne is as dynamic in front of a camera as she is in front of a stove. Her memorable broadcast appearances include spots on The Today Show, Good Morning America, Fox and Friends, The Talk, CNN and Food Network’s Chopped and Beat Bobby Flay.

Adrianne can also be seen on her Emmy-nominated YouTube travel show, Searching for Maximum Flavor, in which she travels the world in search of exciting new ingredients and shows viewers how to incorporate them into their dishes at home. Her forthcoming vodcast of the same name will turn up the heat on celebrity guests who are blindfolded and served mystery meals in the course of being interviewed. Her million+ following on Instagram puts it all together, a combination of mouth-watering food photos, jaw-dropping travel images, lots of laughs and, of course, the occasional oversized margarita.

Adrianne's mastery of great food and media savvy has led to sponsorships and endorsement deals with some of the world’s biggest brands, including Reebok, Airbnb, Jaguar, Samuel Adams, The British Virgin Islands, Diamond Resorts International, Baptist Health, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Anguilla Culinary Experience, AYS Sports, Casillero del Diablo, Royal Caribbean International, F1, Señorio Mezcal, Scrub Island, Jack Daniels, Got Milk?, Hormel, Amerant Bank, Super Bowl LIV, ChefWorks, Sprint, Crocs, Nissan and Sprint.

What Drives Her
Adrianne founded the Make It Count Foundation in honor of her younger sister Jennifer, who died from a rare form of cancer. “Make It Count” was one of Jennifer’s oft-repeated phrases about our time on earth, and today, those words continue to fuel Adrianne’s mission to give back. The Foundation’s goal is to positively impact the lives of children and teens nationwide, and to deliver on this promise, the organization has aligned with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (where Adrianne is the Culinary Ambassador), Susan G. Komen, Flippany, Cooking Matters, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Easter Seals, and many other non-profit organizations.

Adrianne At-A-Glance

Awards
8 Most Innovative Restaurants in Miami, Best Chef for the Floridian Culinary Awards, Miami New Times Best Restaurant, Miami New Times Best Chef, Thrillist’s 50 Things to Eat Before You Die, Thrillist’s 17 Most Important Restaurants in Miami, Thrillist’s Most Influential Restaurants, Zagat’s 10 Totally Unique Restaurants in America, Zagat’s Top 6 Restaurants Worth a Drive, and Zagat’s 9 Most Romantic Restaurants

Philanthropy
Founder of the Make It Count Foundation, whose goal of making a difference and positively impact the lives of children and teens nationwide. The foundation has aligned with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (where Chef Adrianne is the Culinary Ambassador), Susan G. Komen, Flippany, Cooking Matters, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Easter Seals, and many other great organizations.

Restaurants, Food and Wine
Chef Adrianne’s Vineyard Restaurant and Bar
Baked by Chef Adrianne
Goldbelly
A Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

Cookbooks
Maximum Flavor Driven by Flavor, Fueled by Fire
#MaximumFlavorSocial
Play with Fire
The A List

Shows
YouTube: Searching for Maximum Flavor
Maximum Flavor vodcast launched in January 2024

Shari Mukherjee is a self-taught chef, baker, and food blogger with a passion for both savory and sweet recipe development. Shari went from "kitchen zero" and not knowing anything about cooking to competing on FOX's hit show: MasterChef. She has had the privilege of cooking for and learn from some incredible, world-renowned chefs including Gordon Ramsay, Grant Achatz, Iron Chef Morimoto, and others--even earning a trip to London to cook in Chef Ramsay's 3 Michelin Star restaurant: Restaurant Gordon Ramsay. She hopes her story can inspire others--no matter where they're starting--to get into the kitchen and start learning.

As a mother to two young boys, she has a soft spot for teaching kids (and their parents) the benefits of learning to cook--all while having fun doing it! To help inspire parents, Shari shares near-daily “lunch box” and snack ideas on her social media channels. Aside from teaching kids and families how to cook, Shari also regularly holds cooking classes and/or demonstrations (virtual and in-person) for organizations, charities, and individuals. She has held or participated in cooking events with Mayo Clinic, The Boy’s and Girls Club, The Mall of America, Rochester Area Homebuilders/Warner’s Stellian, and the FEAST trade show in her home state of Minnesota.

Born in Colorado and raised in East Texas, Chef Doug Adams’ culinary inspiration began in his hometown of Bullard where traditional Texas cooking intermingles with Hispanic influences. After getting his culinary start in the kitchens of Missoula, Montana he moved to Portland, Oregon in 2008 to attend the Western Culinary Institute (now Le Cordon Bleu). Over the next three years he held positions at number of notable Portland restaurants including Lucier and Metrovino with James Beard Award-winning Chef Gregory Denton. 
In 2011, he took a position with James Beard Award Winning chef Vitaly Paley at his eponymous Paley’s Palace and a year later Paley tapped Adams to be the Sous Chef for his new restaurant opening in downtown Portland, Imperial. Adams quickly earned the role of Chef de Cuisine and shortly after being promoted he was recruited to appear on BRAVO’s Top Chef: Boston. The series ran from October 2014 to February 2015 and established Adams name on a national stage where, as a top three finalist, he gained recognition for his creativity, balance of flavors and hustle in the kitchen. Adams’ thoughtful dishes and strong leadership at Imperial earned him numerous accolades including Best Restaurant 2015 from Willamette Week, the 2015 Chef of the Year from Eater PDX, and a semifinalist nomination from the James Beard Foundation Awards for Rising Star Chef of the year 2016. 
In 2019 Doug opened Bullard Restaurant in downtown Portland, and quickly garnished awards including Chef of the Year from Willamette Week and a spot on the coveted Esquire Magazine’s Best New Restaurant List. After co-founding Holler Hospitality, and opening Holler Restaurant in the Sellwood neighborhood of Portland, Doug made the difficult decision to leave his restaurants and work on the project he was born for—Grand Fir. 

Adam Greenberg has been seen on the Food Networks eight times now. He is the four-time, Grand Chopped Champion, as well as taking down Bobby Flay, on Beat Bobby Flay, and was also a judge on the show. He finished runner-up on Guys Grocery Games TOC tournament play-in, and was most recently seen on Alex vs. American, lobster episode.. Adam is an advocate of using his platform to help local and national charities, and was most recently the owner of Coconut Club in Washington, DC, which unfortunately closed due to covid. Adam moved back to his home state of CT in the greater Hartford area, and is a partner at a new restaurant called Sparrow, a pizza bar In West Hartford. Adam loves doing tv, and can’t wait to see what’s next for him in the near future.

Mary Cressler is a wine, food, and travel writer, publisher of the award-winning blog Vindulge, and author of the critically acclaimed Fire + Wine cookbook. Mary writes about BBQ and wine on her website, Vindulge, which received an IACP nomination for Best Recipe-Based Blog in 2020 and 2017. Mary is a certified sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers, recipe developer, and food and wine writer and with credits in Wine Enthusiast, Serious Eats, Weber Grills Online, Barbecue America Magazine, Big Green Egg, Oregon Wine Press, and many more, and is a frequent judge for wine competitions. A regular guest on Portland’s morning television show, AM Northwest (the local ABC affiliate show in Portland, Oregon), Mary and her partner also teach classes on wine and cooking. Mary lives on a small farm in Oregon wine country with her husband and their twin boys. 

Sean Martin is co-owner of the award-winning website Vindulge, an outdoor cooking, beverage, and lifestyle brand. He is also the co-author of Fire + Wine cookbook. Sean, along his partner, have been recurring guests on Portland’s ABC affiliate AM Northwest as well as featured in numerous publications and cooking events around the world. He can be found cooking alongside founder and wife Mary Cressler with their twin boys on their farm and studio in Hillsboro, Oregon. 

Chef Tucker Ricchio first fell in love with cooking while helping her Nonna make fresh pasta and lasagna as a child. After graduating with a double bachelor’s degree, Chef Tucker decided to pursue becoming a Chef and received formal culinary education from Le Cordon Bleu.

Aside from her Nonna, Chef Tucker credits her culinary skills to Chef Suzette Gresham, who mentored her from Butcher to Sous Chef at her two Michelin starred restaurant Acquerello.

Chef Tucker is also recently the champion of season 2 of Gordon Ramsay’s Next Level Chef! Since winning, Tucker has started her own private chef company called Gastronomy Gangster LLC, where she hosts both private and public dinner parties, live demos, wine dinners, culinary classes, tv appearances, and more! Follow her adventures on IG @cheftuckerricchio

Evan Wiederspohn is an 18-year-old pitmaster, chef, and entrepreneur located near Seattle Washington! Evan has been cooking his entire life all over the culinary field. Evan grew up in the world of barbeque going to many competitions and cooking with some of the most respected pitmasters in the field! This did nothing but increase Evans love for the world of food and this led him to work extremely hard to master the craft even going as far as working for fine dining restaurants and running his own food truck! This long journey of culinary effort has made Evan very respected in the BBQ field with an era of accolades such as being, a winner on season 2 of BBQ U.S.A. with Micheal Simon, a 4 time World Food Championships Qualifier, the current Ilani BBQ Fest Grand Champion, along with so many other awards and aspirations to continue growing in the world of food.