PANELS
NEW THIS YEAr
Aussie Meat Academy: A Chef’s Guide to Flavor, Cuts & Menu Potential
An Australian Red Meat Masterclass with Chefs Claudette Zepeda and Benjamin Udave
Join Chef Claudette Zepeda (San Diego) alongside Andy Groneman of Meat & Livestock Australia, with support from Chef Benjamin Udave (Think Culinary, Los Angeles), for a focused, flavor-first look at Aussie Beef & Lamb, built for working chefs. You’ll experience a side-by-side tasting of Australian grassfed beef, lamb and wagyu, simply prepared to showcase true flavor and quality.
Space is limited, advanced reservations required, info will be provided upon registration.
OpenTable Theater
HostED BY:
Kwini Reed, Leigh Davidson, Brad Metzger
10am – 11am
Old School / New School: The Evolution of Kitchen Culture and Leadership
Ellen Bennett (moderator), Jon Yao, Kwame Onwuachi, Michael Cimarusti, Susan Feniger
11:30am – 12:30pm
Star Power: Achieving and Maintaining Excellence
Brandon Go, Gabriel Ornelas (moderator), Katina Connaughton, Kyle Connaughton, Marcus Jernmark
2:30pm – 3:30pm
Danny Meyer In Conversation with Bill Addison
Bill Addison and Danny Meyer
4pm – 5pm
Origin Stories: How Culture Became Cuisine
Eric Greenspan, Gilberto Cetina, ISSA RAE, ki kim, Nyesha Arrington (moderator)
Additional Panelists Coming Soon
Blackbird Theater
HostED BY:
Monti Carlo, Jacqui Leanza, Meagan McManus
10am – 11am
The Future of Food Media (and What is Food Media Anyway?)
BILL ESPARZA, Luca Servodio, Matt Rodbard (Moderator), Mona Holmes
Additional Panelists coming soon
11:30am – 12:30pm
The Real Influence of Influencers: Decoding ROI, Value and Exposure
Abegail Cal (Moderator), Joy Limanon, Kevin NoParVar (How Kev Eats), Rick Lox, Soy Nguyen
2:30pm – 3:30pm
The It Factor: Creating Buzz and Longevity
Holly Fox, Johnny Ray Zone, Jon Shook, Justin Pichetrungsi, Shane Call (moderator)
4pm – 5pm
panel coming soon
Slang Business Workshop theater
HostED BY:
Ally Barton, Kimlai Yingling
10:00am – 11:00AM
The Restaurant Tech / AI Reset: What to Build, Buy and Stop Paying For
Ben Leventhal, Bricia Lopez, Josh Sharkey, Matt Newberg (moderator), Ryan Handel
11:30am – 12:30pm
Building The Dream: From Concept to Concrete
Brad Block, Eddie Navarrette (moderator), Kat Turner, Lorena Tomb, Ludo Lefebvre
2:30pm – 3:30pm
innovators
Daniel Shemtob (moderator), Liwei Liao, Michael Voltaggio, Rose Previte
Additional Panelists coming soon
4:00pm – 5:00pm
Behind the Deal: Investors, Leases and Other Critical Legal and Business Considerations — Insights from professionals
Caroline Styne, Gay Harwin (moderator), Paul Pruitt, Rashida Holmes, Ryan Bailey
BOOK SIGNINGS
at
table
11am
KWAME
ONWUACHI
ALL HOURS
1:30pm
DANNY
MEYER
what could possibly go right?
3:30pm
roxana
jullapat
MORNING
BAKER
ADAM
WEISBLATT
for the love of restaurants
5PM
Monti
CARLO
SPANGLISH
CLAUDETTE
ZEPEDA
COOKING THE BORDERLANDS
