Our Experts

Chris Cusack has worked in hospitality for over 27 years, and as an owner for 19 years. He has owned coffee shops, cocktail bars, award-winning restaurants, dive bars, sports bars, beer bars, and pizza places. Cusack has created dozens of unique cocktail menus for all occasions, comprising hundreds of original cocktails, for his own concepts and others. He is a Level 1 sommelier and Level 1 cicerone. He currently owns Betelgeuse Betelgeuse, a cocktail bar and pizza place with two locations in Houston, and an immersive artist-led gothic tiki bar called Endless Bummer.

Douglas Keane, chef and co-owner of the Michelin-starred Cyrus in Geyserville, CA, is celebrated for his refined approach to cuisine, rooted in the Japanese concept of shibumi. His career spans top kitchens nationwide and has earned him a Michelin star, a James Beard Award, and recognition from Gourmet and the San Francisco Chronicle. In 2025, he published Culinary Leverage: A Journey Through the Heat, an honest memoir that exposes industry challenges and champions a more sustainable, equitable model for fine dining.

Jerrelle Guy is an author, baker, food photographer, and lifestyle writer. She holds a bachelor's from Rhode Island School of Design and a master's in Gastronomy from Boston University. Through her work—including her debut cookbook, Black Girl Baking, a James Beard nominee; her upcoming cookbook, We Fancy: Simple Recipes to Make the Everyday Special; and her newsletter, The Dinner Ritual—Guy blends design, storytelling and recipes, offering a unique take on how food can nourish both body, mind and spirit for better living. She lives in Dallas with her family.

Chef John Politte is the owner and executive chef of the YouTube channel, It's Only Food with Chef John Politte, where he shares his recipes and seasoning blends. He learned to cook from his mother, gaining essential skills and a strong foundation in the kitchen process. Transitioning into the restaurant industry at 16, he worked in various roles before becoming a Dining Services Director in the Senior Living industry. Driven by a passion for teaching, he launched his YouTube channel to empower home cooks. His success with a seasoning blend led to the creation of Chef Politte Seasonings.

Jordan Hughes is a full-time creative in the food & beverage industry, based out of Portland, OR. He works as a photographer, recipe developer and social media consultant for various brands, bars and restaurant groups. In 2017, he started the Instagram and blog titled High-Proof Preacher, which has since been featured in Forbes, AskMen, Liquor.com, VinePair. In 2019, Saveur Magazine labeled his account the editor's & reader's choice for Best Drinks Instagram.

Chef K.C. Gulbro, award-winning restaurateur and executive chef, is the creative force behind FoxFire, Johnny Fox's, and Nine Vixens in Geneva, IL. Celebrated for his bold, ingredient-driven cuisine and commitment to hospitality, K.C. blends fine-dining artistry with approachable comfort. A champion of local sourcing and allergen-free innovation, he creates inclusive dining experiences while supporting community causes—proving that great food has the power to connect and inspire.

Lloyd Rose is a plant-based chef, content creator, and author of the cookbook Island Vegan. Known as Plantcrazii to over 1 million Instagram followers, Lloyd specializes in vibrant Caribbean-inspired vegan cuisine. He has partnered with top global brands to host immersive culinary retreats across the Caribbean and Central America, inspiring thousands to embrace flavorful, plant-based living. His bestselling cookbook, "Island Vegan," can be found on Amazon or in your local bookstore.

Mathew Woodburn-Simmonds is the founder of Home Coffee Expert. A website that aims to provide its followers with the best possible information about every step of the coffee-making (and drinking) process, with gear reviews and easy-to-understand explainers on coffee brewing methods. His obsession with coffee began during his college days when he worked as a barista in 3rd wave coffee shop and extended well into his time as a restaurant manager and sommelier. He is best known for his strong opinions around social media's obsession with adding anything and everything to coffee.

Molly Horn is the Chief Mixologist and Spirits Educator for Total Wine & More, the country's largest independent wine, spirits and beer retailer. She has over a decade of expertise in developing and managing bar programs. Horn's many responsibilities at Total Wine & More include tasting and marketing new first-to-market spirits, as well as educating sales floor team members on spirits and mixology. Horn is passionate about spirits and crafting cocktails and uses her training as a Certified Sommelier to inform her tasting and reviewing process.

Nathan Myhrvold is the founder of Modernist Cuisine and lead author of "Modernist Cuisine: The Art and Science of Cooking," "Modernist Cuisine at Home," "The Photography of Modernist Cuisine," "Modernist Bread," "Modernist Pizza, Food & Drink: Modernist Cuisine Photography," "Modernist Bread at Home," and "Natural Wonders." In addition to being the first chief technology officer at Microsoft, he holds a doctorate in theoretical and mathematical physics, two master's degrees, and earned a culinary diploma in France.

Nicole Bean owns and operates two Pizaro's Pizza locations with her family in Houston. Trained in Napoletana pizza making by her father, she later studied American-style pizzas at The International School of Pizza. With seven years of experience, Bean serves Detroit-style and New York-style pizzas, preserving authentic regional flavors. In 2018, she received the Rising Star award at the International Pizza Expo Caputo Cup. Bean continues to perfect her craft in pizza and bread making, with plans for additional locations and restaurant concepts.

Nisha Vora is a cookbook author, recipe developer, and the founder behind Rainbow Plant Life, a wildly popular vegan cooking website. A graduate of Harvard Law School, Nisha left her legal career to pursue her passion for food. Her second cookbook, "Big Vegan Flavor" (2024), became a New York Times best-seller and a James Beard Award nominee, praised as the ultimate guide to mastering plant-based cuisine. Nisha is a contributor to NYT Cooking, and her work has been featured across publications, including CNN, People Magazine, The Today Show, and The Washington Post.

Chef Russell Kook, Executive Chef at The Bellevue, brings Midwest roots and Michelin-level experience to the table. A Le Cordon Bleu grad, he trained under acclaimed Chef Todd Stein, leading kitchens at The Florentine, Cibo Matto, and The Roof at the Wit. He's cooked at the James Beard House, battled Bobby Flay on "Iron Chef America," and earned a perfect score on "Hell's Kitchen." After a decade with top Chicago steakhouses, Kook returns to his roots, blending bold flavors, custom spice blends, and refined technique to elevate classic dishes.

Silvio Correa's passion for cooking began at 14 on the beaches of São Paulo, Brazil. He mastered grilling fresh fish and meats over open flames, eventually becoming a sought-after BBQ chef in his hometown. In 2000, he brought his bold Brazilian flavors to California, co-founding Silvio's Brazilian BBQ and cooking for major events like Coachella. Today, through Silvio's Personal Chef and Tropicali Brazilian Kitchen, he delivers unforgettable BBQ and inclusive cuisine to private clients and top companies across Los Angeles.

Tiffanie Barriere is a BarSmarts and Bar 5 certified, award-winning bartender and educator known as "The Drinking Coach." In addition to amassing many of the beverage industry's top honors, she has appeared on TV shows like "Drink Masters" and "The Kitchen." Her cocktail recipes can be found in several books, and her work has been featured in Essence, Wine Enthusiast, and more. She is a respected voice on African American cocktail history, and her passion for Black culinary legacy includes work with the Smithsonian's American Food History Project and the American Women's History Initiative.