chefs

Ted Allen, Food and Wine Ambassador for Discover Wine with Robert Mondavi
Rodelio Aglibot, Sunda New Asian
Jerome Bacle, Courtright's Restaurant
Jimmy Bannos, Heaven On Seven and The Purple Pig
Jimmy Bannos Jr., The Purple Pig
Rick Bayless, Frontera Grill/Topolobampo/XOCO
Fabrice Bouet, Lockwood at the Palmer House Hilton
Graham Elliot Bowles, graham elliot
Alexander Brunacci, Franks 'N' Dawgs
Frank Brunacci, Sixteen
George Bumbaris, Prairie Grass Café/ Prairie Fire
Niall Campbell, Firefly Grill
Gregory Carso, Metropolitan Club
Michael Cisternino, Tavern at the Park
John Coletta, Quartino
Federico Comacchio, Phil Stefani’s 437 Rush
Judy Contino, Bittersweet Pastry Shop and Cafe
Cat Cora, Bon Appétit
Chris Curren, Blue 13 Restaurant & Bar
Jesse DeGuzman, Sunda New Asian
Radhika Desai, English
Federico Destro, Ristorante Luca
Stephen Dunne, Paramount
Dirk Flanigan, The Gage/ Henri
Jo-Marie Frigo, Nonna Santi's Biscotti
Klaus Fritsch, Morton’s The Steakhouse
Dirk and Terry Fucik, Dirk's Fish and Gourmet Shop
Meg Galus, Café des Architectes at Sofitel Chicago Water Tower
Gale Gand, Tru
Jose Garces, Mercat a la Planxa
Luigi Garcia, RIVA Restaurant
John Gatsos, Tavern on Rush
Carlos Gaytan, Mexique
James Gottwald, Rockit Bar & Grill
Eliva Granados, Francesca's Restaurants
Laurent Gras, L20
Koren Grieveson, Avec
Mark Grosz, Oceanique
Stephen Henry, Lockwood at the Palmer House Hilton
Kevin Hickey, Four Seasons Hotel
John Hogan, Keefer’s
Sandra Holl, Floriole Bakery
Trevor Hoyte, IPO
Tony Hu, Lao Szechuan
Brian Huston, The Publican
Stephanie Izard, The Girl & The Goat
Randal Jacobs, Elate 
Paul Kahan, Blackbird
Gene Kato, Japonais
Paul Katz, Harry Caray's Restaurant Group
Bill Kim, Belly Shack
Dian Kochilas, Avli and Pylos
Eddie Lakin, Edzo's Burger Shop
Mariano Lanfranconi, 5411 Empanadas
Ryan LaRoche, NoMI
Bernie Laskowski, Park Grill
Chan Le, Le Colonial
Dale Levitski, Sprout
Joshua Linton, Aja
John Manion, Branch 27
Tony Mantuano, Spiaggia
Shawn McClain, Spring Restaurant Group 
Michael McDonald, one sixtyblue
Jason McLeod, Balsan at the Elysian Hotel
Nathaniel Meads, Fritz Pastry
Mario Navarro, Gene & Georgetti
Martial Noguier, Café des Architectes at Sofitel Chicago Water Tower
Chris Nugent, Les Nomades
Jessica Oloroso, Black Dog Gelato
Terry Opalek and Michael Frontier, Terry's Toffee
Chris Pandel, The Bristol
Mark Payne, deca RESTAURANT + BAR
Nicole Pederson, C-House
Bradford Phillips, LM Restaurant
Ryan Poli, Perennial Restaurant
David Posey, Blackbird
Tony Priolo, Piccolo Sogno
Thierry Rautureau, Rover's Restaurant
Geoff Rhyne, SugarToad
Toni Roberts, C-House
Alain Roby, Hyatt Regency Chicago
Patty Rothman, More Cupcakes'
Arun Sampanthavivat, Arun’s
Marcus Samuelsson, C-House
Patricio Sandoval, Mercadito
Mario Santiago, May St. Cafe & Catering
Mindy Segal, Hot Chocolate
Alex Shalev, Sola
Patrick Sheerin, The Signature Room at the 95th
Jackie Shen, Red Light
Bruce Sherman, North Pond
Michael Shrader, N9NE Steakhouse
Kerry Simon, Simon at the Palms/ Simon LA
Art Smith, Table Fifty-Two
Mark Sparacino, Prosecco
Chad Starling, aria
Jeffrey Starr, Trinchero Family Estates
Sarah Stegner, Prairie Grass Café
Todd Stein, The Florentine
Carly Sullivan, The Gage
Giuseppe Tentori, Boka Restaurant
Jacques Torres, Jacques Torres Chocolate
Rick Tramonto, Tramonto's Steak and Seafood/ RT Sushi Bar & Lounge
Dan Tucker, SUSHISAMBA rio
Jared Van Camp, Old Town Social
Paul Virant, Vie
Fabio Viviani, Santa Margarita
Randy Waidner, Gibsons Restaurant Group
Carol Wallack, Sola
Scott Walton, Markethouse Restaurant and Bar
Stephen Wambach, Epic
Michael Wisner, Zapatista
Takashi Yagihashi, Takashi
Shelley Young, The Chopping Block
Andrew Zimmerman, Sepia
Randy Zweiban, Province

master
sommeliers

Serafin Alvarado, Southern Wine & Spirits of Illinois
Frederick Dame, Heirloom Wine Group
Doug Krenik, Dr. Loosen Wines
Geoff Kruth, Farmhouse Inn and Restaurant
Alpana Singh, Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises

speakers

Bridget Albert, Southern Wine & Spirits of Illinois
Leone Bonacossi, Capezzana
Tim Clark, Chateau Ste Michelle
David Edmonds, Nobilo Wines
Barbara Fairchild, Bon Appétit
Andrew Knowlton, Bon Appétit
John Legnard, Blue Moon Brewing
Monica Pederson, HGTV
Peter Scott, Premium Port Wines
Martin Sinkoff, Frederick Wildman and Sons
John Terlato, Terlato Wines International
William Terlato, Terlato Wines International  
Lori Tieszen, Wines of Chile
Luis Torres, Constellation Wines US
Darryl Woolley, Kim Crawford Wines
 

Alain Roby

Hyatt Regency Chicago

Based out of Hyatt Regency Chicago, Alain Roby currently serves as the Senior Corporate Pastry Chef for Hyatt Hotels. Chef Roby has worked at Hyatt Regency Chicago for over 19 years. Hyatt Regency Chicago is Hyatt Corporation’s flagship hotel and Chicago’s largest hotel. He has expanded his responsibilities to include serving as theSenior Corporate Pastry Chef for Hyatt Hotels, overseeing the Pastry Division for all Hyatt Hotels and Resorts. Alain studied and learned his culinary art in Paris from the world famous Pastry Chef Lenotre and is a Certified Master Chef of Pastry & Sugar Artistry. Chef Roby has also been named as a permanent committee member of the exclusive Societe D’Escofier Chicago. He has traveled all over the world, and in his travels has served as the Private Pastry Chef to the Shah of Iran and has worked in London, Tokyo, New York and finally Chicago. Roby has served as the Private Pastry Chef for the Admiral of the Joan of Arc – the flagship of the French Navy. In addition, he was a featured chef promoting classic All-American desserts on the culinary crossing of the Queen Elizabeth II from South Hampton, England to New York. Chef Roby has won over 20 prestigious culinary awards including, The Grand Prize Gold Medal of Paris offered by the French First Minister (Medaille Des nautes) and the Best of Show by the National Restaurant Association Culinary Salon 1988, in Chicago. At the National Pastry Team Championships in 2001 in Beaver Creek and in 2005 in Phoenix, Chef Roby’s team proved they were among the country’s finest pastry artists, as they impressed the judges with their themed array of pastry creations, including impressive sugar showpieces created by Chef Roby. Chef Roby’s team was awarded the Bronze Medal both years.

Chef Roby has been featured in numerous acclaimed newspaper and magazine publications, including Food & Wine, Gourmet, Pastry Art & Design, and Chocolatier. He has also been featured on The Learning Channel, as well as the Food Network’s Extreme Pastry and Sugar Rush shows. He has been in three Food Network Specials: Unwrapped with Mark Summers, Mystery Birthday Cakes, and The World’s Tallest Sugar Building. Alain has also been a judge in some Food Network Challenges. Chef Roby has served as the head pastry chef at the NFL Commissioner’s Super Bowl Party for the past 19 years. This is an exclusive VIP party attended by 5,000 people. Alain is responsible for all aspects relating to the pastry creations and displays at this prestigious event. Alain’s work has been seen all over the world, as The Guinness Book of World Records awarded Chef Roby the World’s Tallest Cooked Sugar Building and World’s Tallest Chocolate Sculpture honors. His award-winning cooked sugar building was 12 feet 10 inches tall and chocolate sculpture was 20 feet 8 inches tall. These creations took his world visibility to new heights. Chef Roby is the only pastry chef to hold two Guinness World Records. Alain’s most recent achievement is the highest honor of his career. Pastry Art & Design and Chocolatier magazines inducted Chef Roby into their Hall of Fame. This achievement is a prominent recognition of Alain’s contributions to the pastry industry.