Restaurant Informer’s Rising Star program recognizes those in the industry who are going above and beyond expectations in their jobs and finding new ways to lead the industry forward.
A Rising Star is someone who takes initiative time after time, comes up with innovative ideas and fosters a broader sense of community outside of the restaurant. A Rising Star has the potential to be a leader of change in the culinary world.
Recipients can be beverage directors, general managers, designers, sommeliers, front or back-of-house staff, chefs, or anyone else who is making their mark on the state’s restaurant industry and has a drive that you think will take them far in the future.
In partnership with the Georgia Restaurant Association, Restaurant INFORMER‘s editorial staff chooses Rising Star recipients from many nominations across the state’s industry. Restaurant INFORMER then features the Rising Stars in one of its print issues and hosts a celebratory lunch for the winners in recognition of their great work.
Past Rising Stars have included:
Cara McInerney – Beverage Manager & Lead Bartender, Brassica
Sophie Seltzer – Senior Manager, Ted’s Montana Grill
Nick Spatola – General Manager, Ecco Midtown
Meredith Marshall – Executive Chef, DASH Hospitality Group
Eddie Barrett – Executive Chef, Beetlecat
Rovin Chin – Sous Chef, Pinnacle Club/Edgar’s Above Broad
Alma De La Luz – Chef de Cuisine, Marlow’s Tavern
Jose “Pepe” Fundora – Owner of Casa Nuova Italitan Restaurant & Cork and Glass
Tawny Abraham – Hospitality Manager of Marlow’s Tavern
Josue Pena – Executive Chef of The Iberian Pig Buckhead
Josh Kalson – Area Director of Shake Shack
Aaron Wallace – Owner of Oglethorpe Garage
Chris McCord – Chef de Cuisine of Gunshow/Red Beard Restaurants
Mayree Solis – Assistant General Manager of 5Church Atlanta
Robert Butts, Executive Chef at Twisted Soul
Aaron Mattison, Owner/Operator of Bar Vegan
Kenny Nguyen, Executive Chef at The Expat
Sowmya Burugu, Bar Director for Café Lily
Christian Bowdoin, General Manager of MTH Pizza
Matthew Gibbons, General Manager and Beverage Director, Nick’s Westside
Johnny Farrow, Chief Operations Officer, Grindhouse Killer Burgers
Michael Booker, Sous Chef, Muss & Turner’s
Christian Castillo, Pastry Chef, The Chastain
Sean Chang, 23 and Peter Chung, Co-Owners, Mukja Korean Fried Chicken
Natasha Clark, Catering Manager, Loyal Q and Brew
Jessica Gamble, Chef de Cuisine, KR Steakbar
Stephen Peterson, Co-Owner, Storico Vino, Forza Storico
Jessica Rothacker, Chef/Owner, Heirloom Cafe
Joey Ward, Executive Chef and Owner, Southern Belle and Georgia Boy
Alex Wells, Pastry Chef/Restaurant Manager, Catfish Hox
Chris Ledbetter, Ted’s Montana Grill, Culinary Manager
Raul Dominguez, Bar Mercado, Executive Sous Chef
Mark Springfield, Coalition Food and Beverage, Sous Chef
Jeramie Eubanks, Revival, Lead Bartender
Beth Jarvis, Lure / Fifth Group Restaurants, Beverage Manager
Savannah Kirkwood, General Manager, Radial Café
Q. Matissé Myers, Executive Chef, The Southern Gentleman
Laura Orellana, Executive Sous Chef, Osteria Mattone
Joel Penn, Executive Sous Chef, The Wrecking Bar Brewpub
Tyler Sherrer, General Manager, Schlotzsky’s Austin Eatery
Savannah Sasser, Executive Chef, Hampton + Hudson
Woolery “Woody” Back, Executive Chef at Table & Main and Executive Chef and Partner at the new Coalition Food & Beverage
Matt Weinstein, Executive Chef, ONE Midtown Kitchen
John Williams, Chef de Cuisine at Fred’s Meat & Bread and Yalla
John Castellucci, Head of Culinary Development, The Castellucci Hospitality Group
Special thanks to our 2023 Rising Stars sponsors
Presenting Sponsor
Table Sponsors
Savannah Distributing and Society Insurance
