TONY ALBANESE

TONY ALBANESE

As native of the Chicago area, I was raised on a melange of culinary influences including southern Italian from my paternal influence, central European on his mom’s side, and Ukrainian cuisine courtesy of my stepfather. Over the course of my career, I have honed my...
GINA HAMPE

GINA HAMPE

I’ve always been fascinated by the power of food –  the stories it can tell, the history it carries, the bonds it creates for people.  I find it to be an incomparable way to learn about new cultures and countries.  My family loves to travel and discover a...
EMILY BENAS

EMILY BENAS

Growing up in the Midwest, exotic and trendy food was not exactly the norm for my family. Through cooking shows I watched after school in the flat landscape of Illinois, I discovered the magic of different countries through their unimaginable cuisines. I have traveled...
AIDAN LOCKARD

AIDAN LOCKARD

Born and raised in the Bay Area, it has allowed me to explore a wide variety of flavors and tastes via the diverse population. My mom would also take me on a “dining experience” about once a quarter, following the principle from Jiro Dreams of Sushi: “In order to make...