Be a Guest Chef
Are you a local chef or food expert looking to work with youth?
Brainfood welcomes guest chefs and guest speakers into our kitchens to lead a class about a topic or food they love. Guest chefs provide Brainfood participants the chance to learn from an expert who is working in the food or nutrition industry. Some of the topics that guest chefs have taught our participants include basic knife skills, how to make risotto, cake decorating, and ways to cook healthy alternatives to favorite holiday foods. Guest chefs typically bring in some or all of the special ingredients they will be working with.
Guest chefs and guest speakers are needed for both the Brainfood Kitchen All Stars program (Monday - Thursday, 4:00pm – 6:30pm), Brainfood Community MVPs (Tuesday and Thursday, 4:00pm – 6:30pm) and the Brainfood Summer Institute (Monday - Thursday, 1:00pm - 5pm).
Interested in Being a Guest Chef or Guest Speaker?
- E-mail Carina with your name, email address, and telephone number and possible topics that you would be interested in teaching our youth.
Here are some of the amazing guest chefs and guest speakers who have worked with Brainfood participants:
- Teddy Folkman, executive chef, Granville Moore’s
- John Murphy, Assitant Director of Kitchen Operations, Miriam's Kitchen
- Robert Barolin, owner, City Square Cafe
- Kevin Villalovos, executive chef, Cure
- Shanna Follansbee, chef/owner Fine Dining Solutions
- Lisa Biedrzycki, pastry chef
- Alicia Sokol, food blogger, weeklygreens.com
- Domenica Machetti, cookbook author and food writer
- Polly Brown, PollyStyle
- Ralph Rosenberg, director of operations, Zola
- Matt Demery, Park Hyatt
- Joan Nathan, host and executive producer of Jewish Cooking in America with Joan Nathan
- Renee Comet, food photographer, Renee Comet Photography
- Rebecca Scritchfield, registered dietician, Elite Nutrition
- Christina Giallourakis, certified holistic health counselor, Inspire Nutrition
- Kevin Guzman, general manager at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building & Brainfood Alumni
- Sina Molavi, executive chef, Occasions Caterers
- Mark Micheal, co-founder & CEO, Occasions Caterers
- Kim O’Donnel, food journalist, Washington Post
- Joey Altman, restaurant consultant & author of Without Reservations
- Tracy Wilson, co-founder, Sweet Haven Bakery
- Lynette Jackson, founder, Lynettes’ Cakes and Catering
- William McKinney, co-author of Holy Smoke: The Big Book of North Carolina Barbecue
- Dean Gold, owner/chef, Dino
- Michael Clements, executive chef, Social
- Terra Marsden, General Manager (Georgetown), Sprinkles Cupcakes
- Allison Sosna, Chef/Founder, PINE Benefit Corporation
We’ve also had some incredible chefs who have worked with our Brainfood participants and participated in our annual Grill-Off competition, these chefs include:
- Teddy Folkman, executive chef, Granville Moore’s
- Kyle Bailey, Birch & Barley
- Bryan Moscatello, executive chef, Zola & Potenza
- Daniel Giusti, executive chef, 1789 Restaurant
- Shannon Overmiller, executive chef, The Majestic
- Glenn Babcock, executive chef, Nage
- Kevin Villalovos, executive chef, Cure
- Dean Gold, owner/chef, Dino
- Cedric Maupillier, Central Michel Richard
- Anthony Chittum, executive chef, Vermilion
- Anthony Marini, chef de cuisine, Zola
- Carlos Amaya, Coppi’s Organic
- Mike Friedman, Zaytinya
- Georgi Yanev, sous chef, Oyamel
- Rodolfo Guzman Aranda, head chef, Jaleo DC
- Mike Soltes, head chef, Jaleo Bethesda
- Matthew Richardson, Argonaut
- Stefano Frigerio, Mio
- Jimmy Pumarol, Cafe Atlantico
- Michael Harr, Butterfield 9
- Melanie Blonshine, Equinox
- Morgan Taylor, Zaytinya
- Seth Olinger, Ruth's Chris
Want to see Brainfood guest chefs and participants in action? Click here to view our Photo Gallery of guest chefs and guest speakers.