Our Experts

Chris Blatner is an Executive Bourbon Steward and the creator of the popular Instagram page @‌urbanbourbonist. He appears frequently as a guest whiskey expert on podcasts and is an independent consultant for whiskey and spirits brands. Blatner presents educational whiskey segments on local television in Chicago, IL as well as national television. Blatner also serves as the Executive Director of Bourbon Charity.

Master Sommelier Catherine Fallis is known for her approachable and consumer-friendly wine expertise. She played a pivotal role in wine acquisition and content creation while leading the Sommelier team at Bright Cellars for 15 months. She later launched Planet Grape Wine Review, America's first female-led wine review platform. Educated at Cornell University, she became the fifth woman in the world to earn the Master Sommelier title and is the only person to also hold the Advanced Certified Wine Professional title from the Culinary Institute of America. Her latest book is "Ten Grapes to Know, the Ten and Done Wine Guide."

Cody Goldstein is one of the most recognized and acclaimed mixologists in the industry. After years of training in Michelin-starred and highly acclaimed bars/restaurants, he was honored to be the first and only mixologist named to the celebrity-studded Food Council of City Harvest. Goldstein has been featured in various news outlets such as Fortune Magazine, Forbes, and Business Insider, along with television appearances on The Today Show, GMA, Bon Appétit, and more. Highly recognizable brands such as TAZO, DKNY, and Rao's Homemade Patron have partnered with Cody to be their spokesperson. Cody is also the co-author of four successful cocktail books ("Tequila Mockingbird" (10th Anniversary Extended Edition), "Gone with The Gin", "Hickory Daiquiri Dock", and "Are You There God? It's Me, Margarita").

Molly Horn is the Chief Mixologist and Spirits Educator for Total Wine & More, the country's largest independent wine, spirits and beer retailer. She has over a decade of expertise in developing and managing bar programs in the Washington Metro area and was Head Bartender at Farmers Restaurant Group, one of the busiest operations on the East Coast. Horn's many responsibilities at Total Wine & More include tasting and marketing new first-to-market spirits, as well as educating sales floor team members on spirits and mixology. Horn is passionate about spirits and crafting cocktails and uses her training as a Certified Sommelier to inform her tasting and reviewing process.

Michael Lomonaco is one of the executive chefs of Porter House, the iconic American steakhouse and restaurant located in New York City. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Chef Lomonaco rose to fame as the chef of legendary restaurants like Le Cirque, 21 Club before opening his first restaurant Windows of the World atop the original World Trade Center. He opened Porter House in 2006, and nearly 20 years later, it's consistently named among the best steakhouses and most loved restaurants in the city. In addition to his culinary work, Lomonaco also has an established career in food media; he has hosted programs on Discovery Channel and Food Network and published writing in New York Magazine and Food & Wine.

Jessie Massie is the Executive Chef of the Taproom at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.'s location in Mills River, NC since 2016. She has a passion for fresh, high-quality locally sourced ingredients and the art of cooking with beer and other brewing ingredients. The kitchens of her mother and grandmother in the mountains of Western North Carolina were where she first discovered her love of cooking and preparing food, and she later sharpened her skills at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Austin, Texas. While her menu items often pay homage to her Appalachian roots, her overall culinary style is eclectic and inspired by seasonally available ingredients and a range of global cuisines. An upscale touch on each thoughtfully crafted dish pushes the boundaries of a typical taproom menu.

Jasper J. Mirabile Jr. is an acclaimed chef with deep culinary roots. Over seven decades after his father and grandmother founded Jasper's, he now leads the iconic Kansas City restaurant, blending his Sicilian heritage with influences from Tuscany and Piemonte.

Before taking the helm, Jasper studied at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and K State University, spending summers in Europe learning at prestigious cooking schools in Paris, Venice, and Milano.

Beyond the kitchen, Mirabile is a prominent food media figure, hosting "Live! From Jasper's Kitchen" on KCMO Talk Radio and contributing recipes to major brands. He has also authored two cookbooks.

Rich Parente is the chef and owner of Clock Tower Grill in Brewster, NY, where he's created a true farm-to-table dining experience — he and his wife Cassie raise their own pork and lamb for the restaurant on their nearby Clock Tower Farm, grow fruit and vegetables, produce honey and maple syrup, and more.

A Hudson Valley native, Parente began his culinary journey at 13, working at a local deli. He later graduated from the Culinary Institute of America and cooked for heads of state and royalty at the United Nations. Parente also competed in the Kansas City Barbeque before opening Clock Tower Grill in 2013.

An expert griller and BBQ master, Parente is a chef with deep culinary experience, having also helmed restaurants with menus ranging from pizza to barbecue.

Robbie Shoults is a celebrity chef and the third-generation owner of the Texas-located Bear Creek Smokehouse. What started as "Shoults and Son Poultry and Livestock Farm" during World War II has evolved into a nationally recognized and award-winning smokehouse.

Shoults, affectionately known as the "Head Honcho" at his business, stays grounded and hands-on. Whether it's mopping up a spill or negotiating a deal, Shoults is involved in every aspect of Smokehouse operations.

Outside of his work at the smokehouse, Shoults has lent his talents and expertise to a wide array of food-centric media. He has appeared on "Beat Bobby Flay" five times and has been featured on everything from "The Today Show" to "Rachael Ray." His culinary expertise has also been featured in national publications, including Southern Living, Taste of Home, The Food Network, Texas Lifestyle Magazine, Eat This Not That, Tasting Table, and Food Republic.

Adam Truhler is the co-owner of The Grilling Dad, a business focused on making outdoor cooking convenient and enjoyable for busy dads. He has over 15 years of experience in grilling and smoking, with a particular focus on smoked brisket and smash burgers.

Originally from New York, Jeff Tyler's fascination with beer was sparked by a work trip to Colorado Springs. He was quickly enamored with the variation and creativity of craft beers and began brewing beer at home. He furthered his beer expertise by becoming a BJCP certified beer judge and began judging beer competitions throughout New England. By 2016, Tyler decided to make brewing his full-time job and moved to Colorado to work with Yak & Yeti Brewpub. Two years later, Tyler led the rebrand of Yak & Yeti's brewery to Spice Trade Brewing and became a co-owner. He then expanded the business by opening a new flagship location, Spice Trade Brewery + Kitchen in Greenwood Village, Colorado. Today, Tyler is the owner and operator of Spice Trade Brewery + Kitchen, which prides itself on a culinary driven menu inspired by global cuisines. He is a member of the Colorado Brewers Guild and Brewers Association.

Michelle Wallace is the highly esteemed chef and visionary behind B'Tween Sandwich Co., which launched in 2023 as a series of pop-up events. Her idea was to create sandwiches that celebrate the diverse culinary culture in Houston, Texas. The foundation of Wallace's career began in college at Texas Southern University, where she would cook meals for her friends. She then pursued formal culinary training at the Art Institute of Houston before officially launching her career.

Since then, Wallace has honed her skills in several esteemed kitchens, including her time as Executive Chef at Gatlin's BBQ for six years. While she thrives in barbecue, her culinary skills are unlimited, as evidenced by her appearance on the latest season of Bravo's "Top Chef," where Wallace excelled in different forms of culinary brilliance. Wallace is also a highly respected and recognized chef, having been nominated for CultureMap Houston's Rising Star Chef in 2021. She was also chosen as a James Beard TasteTwenty chef for the culinary series Taste America. Wallace's dedication to crafting unique, delicious sandwiches that celebrate Southern culture shines in her meals and hospitality.

Doreen Winkler is a natural wine sommelier, orange wine expert, and founder of Orange Glou, the world's first orange wine subscription service and only brick-and-mortar store dedicated solely to skin contact wines, as well as Orange Glou Wine Fair, North America's first fair devoted to skin contact wines. Named one of "America's Top Sommeliers" by Forbes, Winkler is one of the first sommeliers who created wine lists focused on natural, organic and biodynamic wines. She's developed wine programs for Michelin-starred restaurants, bars and wine retailers, including at Aska and Aldea in NYC, where her program received the World of Fine Wine Best Wine List Award.

Mathew Woodburn-Simmonds is the founder of Home Coffee Expert, a business that aims to provide its followers with the best possible information about every step of the coffee-making (and drinking) process. His obsession with coffee began during his college days when he worked as a barista for a coffee shop and extended well into his time as a restaurant manager and sommelier.