Virtual events have become the norm. And people are getting creative with it, showcasing that just because an event takes place online doesn’t mean it has to lack excitement and interactivity.
A new event concept proves that a virtual event can have lots of flavor.
As part of the “The Storytellers Project” online show, several celebrity chefs have shared their stories about the people and dishes that helped shape their passion for food.
All for a good cause: to encourage more people to support Feeding America. Here is more about four of the incredible chefs who were a part of this creative initiative.
1. Rocco DiSpirito
Based in New York City, Rocco DiSpirito is a James Beard Award-winning celebrity chef and New York Times bestselling cookbook author known for his Italian-American cuisine and fusion cooking.
His experience with cooking at a virtual event is ever-growing, as Rocco used his talent to support several charitable initiatives, including the “at Home” series organized by NYC Wine & Food Festival.
As part of the campaign, Rocco led an interactive, virtual class, where he shared his top tricks for creating ultra-creamy pasta dishes using only a handful of simple pantry ingredients.
2. Maneet Chauhan
Featured as a judge on the Food Network’s “Chopped,” Maneet Chauhan was the Executive Chef of several famous restaurants in Chicago and New York.
Today, her menus can be enjoyed on flights from the U.S. to Europe and South America.
Maneet Chauhan is also a published author, having written “Flavors of My World: A Culinary Tour Through 25 Countries.”
Online, the renowned celebrity chef Maneet Chauhan is offering virtual cooking classes over IGTV. Audiences can tune in to learn new recipes such as Maneet’s go-to breakfast, Masala Omelette, or her staple dinner recipe, Coconut Shrimp.
3. Aaron May
A popular name heard in the food industry, Aaron May is the owner of multiple restaurants that have been featured on the Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives,” “Best Thing I Ever Ate,” “Guy’s Big Bite.”
May is not only an extremely talented celebrity chef, but he’s also very charismatic and witty – which makes him perfect for a virtual event.
Combining his knack for storytelling with his culinary expertise, Aaron May can bring staple restaurant dishes to the homes of viewers – while also feeding their need for entertainment.
4. Claudette Zepeda
A San Diego-based chef praised for her regional Mexican cuisine, Claudette Zepeda has many achievements listed in her resume, including:
- being featured on Esquire’s 2018 Best New Restaurants,
- getting recognition from Michelin on its 2019 Bib Gourmand list,
- being named a James Beard Best Chef West semifinalist.
You may remember her as a “Top Chef Season 15” and “Top Chef Mexico” competitor.
Claudette is also very active online, offering interactive cooking classes via virtual events.
For example, Claudette recently took part in the Home Chef Series, where she joined host and Chef Dani Dillon for a full hour of at-home cooking and discovery through food.
More Celebrity Chefs that do Virtual Events
5. Brian Malarkey
Brian Malarkey, a finalist onTop Chef Season 3 has been featured on numerous television shows including The Real Housewives of Orange County, Top Chef Masters, and was the winning Chef Mentor on ABC’s The Taste. He is currently competing in Top Chef LA All-stars Brian has won over 60 industry awards and created 15 highly successful restaurants including Herringbone and Searsucker.
Brian continues to appear on popular shows as a guest celebrity chef including, Good Morning America, Entertainment Tonight, and the Today Show. His latest venture, Herb & Wood, located in San Diego, has been awarded with numerous accolades.
6. Brooke Williamson
After being the first runner up on Top Chef Season 10, Brooke redeemed herself as the winner of Top Chef Season 14. She is the co-owner and co-chef, along with husband Nick Roberts, of successful ventures including Hudson House in Redondo Beach, The Tripel, Playa Provisions, and the culinary retail boutique Tripli-Kit in Playa Del Rey. In addition to her experience competing on Top Chef, Brooke has also participated on other national TV shows including Top Chef Duels, winning a battle on Esquire Network’s Knife Fight, and hosting MTV’s first foodie series, House of Food.
7. Richard Blais
Perhaps most recognizable as the winner of Top Chef All-Stars, Richard Blais is a successful chef, cookbook author and television personality. Richard is a recurring guest on ABC’s The Chew and Good Morning America. Richard’s passion for molecular gastronomy sets him apart from many of his competitors and adds to the uniqueness of his food. He currently owns and operates Trail Blais, a forward- thinking culinary company that has consulted on, designed, and operated popular eateries including multiple outposts of Flip Burger Boutique located in the Southeast and most recently, Crack Shack and Juniper & Ivy in San Diego.
8. Angelo Sosa
Top Chef fans love Angelo Sosa and have enjoyed seeing his success on two seasons of Top Chef Season 7 and Top Chef All-Stars! One of Angelo’s dishes on Top Chef won a NASA competition that sent his short ribs into space. He has worked with some of the best chefs and restaurateurs in the world including Jean Georges, Dune and Stephen Starr. Angelo has released two cookbooks one in 2012 and the other in 2015. Angelo opened his restaurant Death by Tequila, championing Baja-inspired cuisine in 2018 in Encinitas.
9. Curtis Stone
Curtis Stone is an Australian celebrity chef, author and television personality. Stone became host of the third season of Bravo’s Top Chef Masters, co-hosted Around the World in 80 Plates as well as Top Chef Duels. In addition to hosting television shows, Stone opened his first restaurant, Maude, in 2014 in Beverly Hills, CA. Stone opened his second restaurant, Gwen, with his brother Luke in 2016 located in Los Angeles, CA. Stone has also appeared in ads for Coles Supermarkets, Hy-Vee, Bi- Lo, Great Grains cereal, as well as made dozens of appearances on cooking shows and network show, including Celebrity Apprentice.
10. Casey Thompson
Casey Thompson worked her way up from prep cook to Sous Chef before leaving to accept the Executive Chef position at one of Dallas’ most popular Asian restaurants, Shinsei. Casey then appeared on Top Chef Season 3 and finished as runner up and fan favorite. Casey once again excelled at yet another Top Chef adventure, ranking as a top finalist on Top Chef Season 14. Casey currently resides in Napa and consults for restaurants and hotels lending her talents to many types of cuisines and styles of cooking.
11. Melissa d’Arabian
Celebrity chef, television host, best-selling author, speaker, writer and mom of four Melissa d’Arabian is an expert on affordable and healthy family home cooking. After winning season five of The Next Food Network Star in August 2009, Melissa premiered her inaugural cooking show Ten Dollar Dinners proving a delicious budget-friendly meal can be made without compromise and always delivering on her $10 promise. Today, Melissa is a sought-after expert regularly featured in national media.
12. Ray Garcia
Ray Garcia is a nationally recognized chef, entrepreneur, and was named Esquire Magazine’s “2015 Chef of the Year”. As a native Angeleno, Ray Garcia draws his culinary inspiration from the city’s rich culture, Southern California’s produce and his classic training. As chef/owner of Broken Spanish and BS Taqueria, he incorporates all of these things to express a Mexican-American narrative. Since it opened in June of 2015, Broken Spanish has earned countless accolades and recognition as one of the best new restaurants of the year by Esquire, USA Today, LA Weekly, Los Angeles Times and Los Angeles Magazine. Ray has appeared on Home & Family, Ugly Delicious, Food: Fact or Fiction and many more.
13. Antonia Lofaso
Originally from Los Angeles, single mom Antonia gained experience in the culinary arts studying at the acclaimed French Culinary Institute. After graduating she landed a coveted position in the kitchen of Wolfgang Puck’s Spago. During this time, Antonia appeared on Top Chef Season 4. Since then, she has spent time behind the camera as Culinary Producer for America’s Next Great Restaurant and in front of the camera as a judge on CNBC’s Restaurant Startup, and recurring roles on The Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen, Man vs. Child, and ABC’s Real O’neals. She has opened several restaurants including Dama in Los Angeles and Scopa in Venice, CA.
14. Fabio Viviani
Originally hailing from Florence, Italy, Fabio came to the US and made his first television appearance on Top Chef and then was featured on Life After Top Chef. Fabio has since appeared on Good Morning America, The Talk , The Chew on ABC, The Ellen DeGeneres Show , Good Day LA, Access Hollywood, The Today Show and many more! Fabio Viviani Hospitality has opened 34 restaurants to date, and in the next 18 months Fabio Viviani Hospitality Group is scheduled to open 14 more venues, including 5 Hotels in partnerships with different operators.
15. Ryan DePersio
Recognized as one of New Jersey’s most talented and respected chefs, executive chef Ryan DePersio brings a wealth of epicurean knowledge and award-winning experience to the kitchens of Fascino, NICO Kitchen + Bar, Battello and The Kitchen Step. Chef DePersio regularly appears in media, having served as a guest on NBC’s Today Show, the Food Network, Tony Tantilo’s CBS morning segment and in in the New York Post’s ‘Just Add Fire’ digital series.
16. Michelle Bernstein
She has appeared on an array of national TV shows, from Top Chef to Good Morning America, as well as Emmy award-winning PBS weekly television series, Check, Please! South Florida, and the TV series on Channel 10, SoFlo Taste. Chef Michelle Bernstein, a Miami native, is one of the most influential and iconic chefs in South Florida. Her culinary inspiration is drawn from the discipline of her ballet background, her cultural roots and upbringing, her travels around the world and family recipes.
17. Marc Forgione
Chef Marc Forgione is the chef/owner of Restaurant Marc Forgione and Peasant and is the co-owner/partner of Khe-Yo. Chef Marc Forgione began his career at the age of 16, joining his father, Larry Forgione (a culinary legend who revolutionized American-style cooking in the ’70s and ’80s), in the kitchen at An American Place. Chef Forgione won season 3 of Food Network’s “The Next Iron Chef” at just 31 years old, making him the youngest winner in the show’s history, and went on to compete as one of the seven Iron Chefs on “Iron Chef America,”
Want to Book a Celebrity Chef for Your Virtual Event as well?
These days, people are cooking more meals at home than ever.
Therefore, they are interested in discovering new recipes and learning new skills to help them step up their game in the kitchen.
So, why not book a chef to spruce up your next event and teach your remote guests new ways to elevate their cooking?
We can help.
The Grable Group is the worlds leading virtual booking agency. We have a generous selection of entertainers that you can book for an online event that your audience will remember. From health-focused chefs to former White House chefs and celebrity cooking-professionals, you’ll find them all in our portfolio.
Start browsing now, and don’t hesitate to reach out to us at (615) 283-0039 in case you have any questions. We will be happy to help you plan your next online program.
