The Daily Meal Welcomes A Stellar Array Of Culinary Advisors

From the earliest days of The Daily Meal, way back in January of 2011, we've been fortunate enough to benefit from informal advice and assistance offered by a wide range of top culinary figures; people we've gotten to know personally or professionally through the years, who have been generous with their time and considerable knowledge in helping us to create and maintain this unique food and drink mega-site.

As a way of both expanding the loose-knit group that has helped us — and by extension, our readers — over the past three-plus years and of focusing our relationship with these valuable friends, we've compiled a roster of respected chefs, restaurateurs, writers, purveyors, food historians, and others who play key roles in the food world and invited them to join what we've dubbed The Daily Meal Council.

The Council doesn't have bylaws or regular meetings. There are no membership cards or secret handshakes. It's just a group of knowledgeable people who have agreed to share their opinions and their expertise with us from time to time; answering occasional queries, responding to surveys, advising us on matters of importance to us all. In return, we offer them a high-profile forum through which to announce and promote their new projects, whether restaurants, books, charitable causes, or other concerns. 

Some of the most famous culinary personalities in America have joined with us — folks like Mario Batali, Alice Waters, Daniel Boulud, and Ruth Reichl. Other names will be less familiar to many readers; for instance, Portland Meat Collective founder Camas Davis, Virginia-based food historian Patrick Evans-Hylton, and Middle Eastern food authority Charles Perry. Everyone on the Council brings deep subject knowledge — on a wide variety of food-related subjects — and we welcome them all with gratitude for their participation and anticipation of a long and mutually fruitful working relationship.

We'll be introducing you to our Council members, two at a time, in the weeks to come, beginning with portraits of author, radio commentator, and food-writing teacher Kelly Alexander and chef–restaurateur and food policy advocate José Andrés.

Our list will grow from time to time, and at some point we'll go international. For now, though, here are the inaugural members of The Daily Meal Council:

  • Kelly Alexander, Chapel Hill, N.C. Author, radio commentator, food-writing teacher.
  • José Andrés, Washington D.C. Chef-restaurateur (Jaleo, minibar, The Bazaar, etc.), Dean of Spanish Studies at the International Culinary Center, and food policy advocate.
  • Dan Barber, New York City. Chef and co-owner, Blue Hill and Blue Hill at Stone Barns, and food policy advocate.
  • Joe Bastianich, New York City. Restaurateur (Babbo, Del Posto, Tarry Lodge, etc.), specialty food purveyor (the Eataly megastores), author, and winemaker.    
  • Lidia Bastianich, New York City. Chef–restaurateur (Felidia, Del Posto, Lidia's Kansas City, etc.), cookbook author, and television personality.
  • Mario Batali, New York City. Chef–restaurateur (Babbo, Del Posto, Tarry Lodge, etc.), specialty food purveyor (the Eataly megastores), television personality.
  • Rick Bayless, Chicago. Chef–restaurateur, author, television personality, founder of The Frontera Farmer Foundation.
  • Daniel Boulud, New York City. Chef–restaurateur (Daniel, BD Bistro Moderne, Bar Boulud, Boulud Sud, and numerous other establishments in New York City, Palm Beach, Miami, Montreal, Toronto, London, Singapore, and Beijing), author, television personality.
  • Floyd Cardoz, New York City. Executive chef and partner, North End Grill, and former executive chef, Tabla.
  • Cesare Casella, New York City. Executive chef and partner, Salumeria Rosi and Il Ristorante Rosi, and Dean of Italian Studies at the International Culinary Center 
  • Darrell Corti, Sacramento. Food and drink retailer, Corti Bros.
  • Chris Cosentino, San Francisco. Chef–restaurateur (Incanto), sausage-maker, author, and television personality.
  • Ariane Daguin, Newark, N.J. Owner of D'Artagnan, America's leading purveyor of organic poultry, game, foie gras, charcuterie, and wild mushrooms. 
  • Camas Davis. Portland, Ore. Food writer and founder of the Portland Meat Collective.
  • Robert Del Grande, Houston. Chef–restaurateur (RDG and Bar Annie, the Café Express chain).
  • Wylie Dufresne, New York City. Chef–restaurateur (wd~50, Alder).
  • Patrick Evans-Hylton, Hampton Roads, VA. Journalist, food historian, author, and lecturer.
  • Nathalie Dupree, Charleston. S.C. Author of Mastering the Art of Southern Cooking and 12 other cookbooks, television personality. 
  • Barry Estabrook, Vergennes, Vt. Journalist and author of Tomatoland: How Modern Industrial Agriculture Destroyed Our Most Alluring Fruit
  • Dean Fearing, Dallas. Chef–restaurateur (Fearing's Restaurant).
  • Barbara Fairchild, Los Angeles. Journalist, educator, radio personality, and former food magazine editor.  
  • Susan Feniger, Los Angeles. Chef and Co-owner of the Border Grill restaurants and trucks, chef–owner of Mud Hen Tavern, author, television personality.
  • Anya Fernald, San Francisco. CEO of the Belcampo organic farm, slaughterhouse, and butcher shop/restaurant group.
  • Larry Forgione, St. Helena, Calif. Pioneering "new American" chef', co-founder and director of the Conservatory for American Food Studies, and the Farm to Table Studies Concentration at The Culinary Institute of America.
  • Suzanne Goin, Los Angeles. Chef–restaurateur (Lucques, A.O.C., The Hungry Cat, etc.) and co-founder of L.A. Loves Alex's Lemondade.
  • Jonathan Gold, Los Angeles. Pulitzer Prize-winning Los Angeles Times restaurant critic.

To see the rest of the list, continue onto the following page.

  • Dorothy Cann Hamilton, New York City. Founder and CEO of the International Culinary Center.
  • Gabrielle Hamilton, New York City. Chef–restaurateur (Prune), author of Blood, Bones & Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef.
  • Melissa Hamilton, Lambertville, N.J. Writer, editor, producer, Canal House, and former director of the Saveur kitchen.
  • Kerry Heffernan, New York City. Chef and fisherman.
  • Christopher Hirsheimer, Erwinna, Pa. Photographer, producer, writer, Canal House, and founding co-editor of Saveur.
  • Raymond Hook, New York City. Cheese expert and managing partner, Raymond Hook Specialty, a growth strategy company for specialty food producers.
  • Madhur Jaffrey, New York City. Author of more than 25 cookbooks, television personality, actress.
  • Dorothy Kalins, New York City. Writer and editor, founding editor of Saveur.
  • Paul Kahan, Chicago. Executive chef–partner, Blackbird, avec, The Publican, Big Star, Publican Quality Meats, and Nico Osteria.  
  • Peter Kaminsky, Brooklyn. Author of numerous books on food, home chef, and angler.
  • Jenifer Lang, New York City. Journalist, author, former owner and managing director of Café des Artistes.
  • Tim Love, Fort Worth. Chef–restaurateur (Lonesome Dove Western Bistro, Woodshed Smokehouse, Love Shack, White Elephant Saloon, and Queenie's Steakhouse), co-founder of the Austin Food & Wine Festival, and official chef of the Austin City Limits Music Festival.
  • Deborah Madison, Galisteo, N.M. Founding chef of Greens restaurant in San Francisco and author of Vegetable Literacy and 11 other cookbooks.
  • Zarela Martinez, New York City. Author, cooking teacher, former chef–restaurateur (Zarela's).
  • Thomas McNamee, San Francisco. Author of Alice Waters and Chez Panisse and The Man Who Changed the Way We Eat: Craig Claiborne and the American Food Renaissance.
  • Rich Melman, Chicago. Founder and Chairman of the Board of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, operating more than 70 venues in Chicago and beyond.
  • Mary Sue Milliken, Los Angeles. Chef and Co-owner of the Border Grill restaurants and trucks, author, media personality, and food policy advocate.
  • Marion Nestle, New York City. Author, blogger, Paulette Goddard Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at New York University
  • Ken Oringer, Boston. Chef–restaurateur (Clio, Uni, Toro, La Verdad, and Coppa in Boston, Earth at Hidden Pond in Kennebunkport, Maine, and Toro in New York City).
  • Louis Osteen, Pawley's Island, S.C. Chef and consultant.
  • Cindy Pawlcyn, St. Helena, Calif. Chef–restaurateur (Mustards Grill and Cindy's Backstreet Kitchen.).  
  • Jacques Pépin, Madison, Conn. Chef, cooking teacher, cookbook author, and television personality.  
  • Charles Perry, Los Angeles. Writer and food historian specializing in the Middle East.
  • Maricel E. Presilla, Hoboken, N.J. Culinary historian, author of Gran Cocina Latina: The Food of Latin America and other books, and chef–owner of Cucharamama, Zafra, and Ultramarinos in Hoboken.
  • Ruth Reichl, New York City. Former restaurant critic of the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times and last editor-in-chief of GourmetTop Chef Masters judge, and author of numerous books, including the new novel, Delicious!.
  • Andrea Reusing, Chapel Hill, N.C. Chef–restaurateur, Lantern, and author.
  • Alain Sailhac, New York City. Chef, consultant, and executive vice president and dean emeritus at the International Culinary Center.
  • Lydia Shire. Boston. Chef–restaurateur (Scampo, Towne Stove & Spirits).
  • Nancy Silverton, Los Angeles. Founder of La Brea Bakery, cookbook author, and chef–restaurateur (Osteria Mozza, Pizzeria Mozza, Chi Spacca, etc.).
  • André Soltner, New York City. Longtime chef–owner of Lutéce, Dean of Classic Studies at the International Culinary Center.
  • Gabino Sotelino, Las Vegas and Chicago. Chef and partner, Cafe BabaReeba (Chicago), Mon Ami Gabi (various locations), and three other restaurants.
  • Frank Stitt, Birmingham, Ala. Chef–owner, Highlands Bar and Grill, Bottega, and Chez Fonfon.
  • Kim Sunée, Anchorage, Alaska. Former food editor, author of Trail of Crumbs and A Mouthful of Stars.
  • Norman Van Aken, Orlando. Chef–restaurateur (Norman's at the Ritz-Carlton), author, cooking teacher, and media personality.
  • Marc Vetri, Philadelphia. Chef–owner of Vetri, Osteria, Amis, Alla Spina, and Pizzeria Vetri in Philadelphia and Osteria in Moorestown, N.J., and co-founder of the Vetri Foundation.
  • James Villas, East Hampton, N.Y. Former food and wine editor of Town & Country and author of Southern Fried and 17 other cookbooks and books on food, plus two novels. 
  • Robb Walsh, Houston. Author, food editor of Houstonia magazine, and restaurateur (El Real Tex-Mex Café).
  • Alice Waters, Berkeley. Founder and partner, Chez Panisse; cookbook author; food policy advocate; founder, The Edible Schoolyard.
  • Jonathan Waxman, New York City. Pioneering "new American" chef, chef–restaurateur (Barbuto), cookbook author.
  • Ari Weinzweig, Ann Arbor, Mich. Author and CEO and co-founding partner of Zingerman's Community of Businesses, including Zingerman's Delicatessen and seven related enterprises.
  • Jasper White, Boston. Chef–partner of the Summer Shack restaurants and partner in Georges Bank, LLC, a wholesale boat-to-table seafood operation. 
  • Anne Willan, Santa Barbara. Author of the memoir One Soufflé at a Time and more than 30 cookbooks, culinary historian, and founder of La Varenne Cooking School in Paris.
  • Barry Wine, New York City. Former chef/owner of The Quilted Giraffe and international culinary consultant.
  • Paula Wolfert, Sonoma. Author of The Food of Morocco and eight other cookbooks and cooking teacher.