A Tasteful Pursuit

Participating Chefs

Learn more about the country's top chefs.

The generous and talented group of chefs pictured here are the key force behind Share Our Strength's A Tasteful Pursuit. Cooking incredible courses at the dinners, inviting their restaurant patrons to support Share Our Strength and contributing to the events live and silent auctions is just part of what each of these chefs do to support Share Our Strength's work to end childhood hunger in America. They also donate time to help plan the events and many open their restaurants to host these incredible dinners.

Bradford Thompson

Bradford Thompson, a 2006 James Beard Award Winning Chef, became involved with Share Our Strength in 1988, and has remained actively involved with the organization ever since.

"As chefs, we have the ability to help more than 12 million children who may not know when their next meal will come by doing what we love to do most," he says.

His passion for the cause led him to create Share Our Strength's A Tasteful Pursuit, a national touring dinner series to end childhood hunger. Now in its fifth year the tour features some of the nation's top chefs: Daniel Boulud, Michael Symon, Michelle Bernstein, Charlie Palmer and many others.

In 2005, the organization honored him as its Outstanding Chef of 2005 for his extraordinary contributions to the national organization and his efforts to ending childhood hunger in his community.

Learn more about National Spokesperson Brad Thompson »

Michael Symon

Renowned in the Culinary world and adored in his hometown, Cleveland, Ohio, Michael Symon chef/owner of critically acclaimed restaurants Lola and Lolita and chef/partner of newly opened Roast, in Detroit, Michigan has earned attention through the years for his thoughtful cooking style. Michael has been named National Rising Star by Restaurant Hospitality Magazine, Top Ten Best New Chef's by Food and Wine Magazine, America's Best Restaurants in Gourmet Magazine, featured in Michael Ruhlman's book "The Soul of a Chef", nominated for several awards by The James Beard Foundation, has appeared on I-Village Live on NBC, Sara's Secrets, Ready set Cook, Food Nation, has hosted over 100 episodes of The Melting Pot and competed on Iron Chef America vs. Morimoto on The Food Network. His most recent achievements include becoming an Iron Chef and host of Season 5 of Dinner Impossible. His long term commitment to Share Our Strength includes hosting an annual A Tasteful Pursuit event in Cleveland at Lola Bistro.

Learn more about Michael »

Andy Husbands

Andy is the chef and owner of Tremont 647, in Boston's South End, which opened its doors in 1996 to local and national acclaim with its boldly flavored adventurous American cuisine. Husbands' commitment to locally grown and organic ingredients is reflected in his restaurants eight-season cycle. Andy was awarded the Chef/Restaurateur of the Year, 2004, by Share Our Strength and Andy has supported the organization for the past 15 years, donating over $100,000 directly to the organization. In September of 2004, Andy Husbands released his first cookbook, "The Fearless Chef", and in the spring of 2005, Andy was honored by the National Pork Board, as one of only 5 chosen "Celebrated Chefs" in the country. Andy Husbands, along with some good ole' friends, also participates in BBQ competitions under the team name; iQue BBQ, placing 10th in the world at the Jack Daniel's World Invitational BBQ Championships, and taking home First Place in Brisket at the Kansas City Royal, 2008, beating out 500 other teams.

Learn more about Tremont 647 and Chef Husbands »

Daniel Boulud

Chef-Owner of some of the country's finest restaurants, author of numerous cookbooks and creator of gourmet products, Daniel Boulud's style is marked for his unique use of time-honored French technique applied to the finest seasonal American ingredients. Over the last two decades, Boulud has evolved from a chef to a chef-restaurateur, bringing his artistry to his New York City restaurants DANIEL, Café Boulud, DB Bistro Moderne and Bar Boulud, the newly opened bistro across from Manhattan's Lincoln Center. In addition, he has created Café Boulud in Palm Beach, Daniel Boulud Brasserie at the Wynn Las Vegas Resort and Maison Boulud in Beijing. HE is also host of the "After Hours with Daniel" TV series. While Daniel has received countless professional accolades, he is most proud of having been named "Outstanding Restaurateur" by the James Beard Foundation and Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur by the French government, both in 2006. The creativity, energy and personal attention apparent in Boulud's restaurants is surpassed only by his generosity and sense of community. His efforts were recognized April 2007 when he received the "Culinary Humanitarian" award presented to him at the United Nations. Chef Boulud hosts A Tasteful Pursuit annually at Café Boulud in Palm Beach, FL and is extremely committed to his work with Share Our Strength.

Learn more about Chef Boulud »

Charlie Palmer

Since the beginning of his celebrated career, master Chef and hospitality entrepreneur Charlie Palmer has received critical acclaim for his signature Progressive American cooking, a style built on rambunctious flavors and unexpected combinations with a deep and lasting infusion of classical French cuisine. Influenced by his childhood experiences working in his family's vegetable garden, Palmer was an early advocate of farm over factory food. Over the years, Palmer combined his creative cooking spirit and flair for business to open twelve notable restaurants across the country, a growing collection of food-forward wine shops and award-winning boutique hotels. Inducted into the James Beard "Who's Who of Food & Beverage in America" in 1998 and a frequent guest on NBC's Today Show, Charlie Palmer is also the author of four cookbooks. His support of Share Our Strength includes hosting the A Tasteful Pursuit event in Washington, DC, participating in the Great American Dine Out and various other local initiatives at Charlie Palmer Steak in DC where Share Our Strength is based.

Learn more about Charlie Palmer »

Chris Koetke

You might recognize Dean Christopher Koetke's name from his weekly guest spots on WGN-TV and appearances on WGN radio shows in Chicago. In addition to his local celeb status, Dean Koetke has been a culinary instructor at The School of the Culinary Arts of Kendall College since January 1998. In 2002, he was named Associate Dean of the Culinary School. Along with the move to the new Riverworks campus, he became Dean of the Culinary School in 2005. Dean Koetke has led kitchens in his hometown of Valparaiso, Indiana as well as at L'Escargot, Le Francais and Les Nomades in the Chicagoland area. He also trained in France and expanded his culinary world-view in some France's finest kitchens: Pavilion Elysees, Pierre Gagnaire, Taillevent and Pierre Orsi. Dean Koetke has finished third in the U.S. finals of the Bocuse d'Or culinary competition, was voted Chef of the Year (1997) by the Chicago chapter of The International Food and Wine Society, and was the national winner of the Mapleleaf Duck Competition (1997). Beyond these superlatives, he is a noted ice carver, food and beverage consultant, former contributing editor at numerous food publications. and a sought-after public speaker. Chef Koetke has supported Share Our Strength in many capacities - through hosting A Tasteful Pursuit to participating alongside Kendall College students in helping out at the Share Our Strength Food Arts BBQ and Taste of the Nation.

Learn more about Chef Koetke »

Auctioneer Billy Harris

Share Our Strength's A Tasteful Pursuit is lucky to have had the support of celebrity auctioneer Billy Harris on tour for the last three years, helping Share Our Strength raise more than $1 million for efforts to end childhood hunger in America. For the past seventeen years, Billy Harris has been wowing audiences throughout the United States and around the world. His razor-sharp timing and brilliant improvisational skills have made him one of the most sought-after MC's in the business. Billy also lends his comedic style to the auction block raising millions of dollars for charitable causes, including Share Our Strength.

A cousin of Vaudeville great Georgie Jessel, Billy has been performing his entire life. When he was five years old he made a quarter "vanish." By the tender age of five and a half, he understood how to "work a room!"

Billy has become the "go-to-guy" in the culinary world. He has hosted events with Mario Batali, Rachael Ray, Todd English and Michael Symon. You can also find Billy at the South Beach Food and Wine Festival, The Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, and Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans with "The Modern Mixologist", Tony Abou-Ganim.

Learn more about Billy Harris »

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