Celebrity Personalities at the Metro Cooking Show

Personalities at Metro Cooking Show 

Kelli Duffy, Executive Chef  at Cake Carousel, Inc: Kelli Duffy has been working at her family owned business for over ten years. Her family’s business, Cake Carousel, is located in Richardson off of 75 and Arapaho. Kelli shares her expertice of cake decorating in her imaginative classes and demonstrations at Cake Carousel. She will teach you the tricks and techniques by using top of the line products.

Kitchen Kimberley, Author and Spokeperson:  Kimberley is the author of three cookbooks, including Sweet Treasures, The Joy of Food, and her latest book, Fabulous Foodie Favorites: Cook, Eat, Smile, Repeat! She is also  the Spokesperson for Southwest Dairy Farmers, she  helps audiences understand and appreciate how easy it is to incorporate delicious dairy products into their
daily diet.

Melanie Mckinley and Ashleigh Davis, Partners at Mayhar Design: Melanie and Ashleigh, two sisters started Mayhar Designs in 2009. The company started out as a custom ring bearer pillow line has gradually expanded into an assortment of wedding & décor products and event styling. Mayhar Design’s products have been featured in countless media outlets across the nation, including BRIDES Magazine, Southern Living, Elegant Bride, Style Me Pretty and Wedding Chicks among others. Stop by one of their workshops at the show. 

Jeffrey Horn, Creative Director and Principal at Feature Presentations, Ltd: Jeffrey Horn is a renowned event planner and entertaining expert who crafts every event with his own unique brand of elegance, talent and an almost-preternatural ability to visualize space. With attention to detail and a flair for the unimaginable, Jeffrey creates events that stimulate the senses, awe guests, and stay on message.

Nancy Addison, Healthy Eating and Raw Food Instruction at Organic Healthy Lifestyle:  Nancy Addison is a former model, actress and dancer who has successfully counseled athletes, move stars, models, CEO’s, and other professionals using her straight talk and sound guidance.  Nancy also became Larry Hagman’s (aka the ruthless J.R Ewing) personal nutrition counselor and chef during filming of the show DALLAS.

Rich Rogers, Cheesemonger at Scardello Artisan Cheese: Rich discovered his passion for food at an early age in his hometown of Dalhart, Texas. Rogers has parlayed this love into a family business with Scardello Artisan Cheese, which opened in November 2008 in Dallas’ Oak Lawn/Turtle Creek neighborhood. The shop’s mission is simple. “At Scardello, we embrace our role as ‘cheese enthusiasts’ by sharing our knowledge and passion with our guests. Scardello offers artisan, high quality foods and accepts a responsibility to our world, our community, our guests and each other,” Rogers says.

Donna Collins, Founder at The Jelly Queens:  Donna – or MommaDonna as she is affectionately called – is known globally as a feng shui master and artist, and locally as the best cook in the county and founder of The Jelly Queens, a Texas based gourmet jam company. She was recently chosen as one of the top 100 best amateur cooks in American as FOX Network’s mega hit “MasterChef” with Gordon Ramsay. Her current passion is her new TV show with Juliet Ryan, “The Jelly Queens”, which is all about Texas Farms, Texas Food and the Adventures of two Texas Women with a side of Texas music!

Juliet Ryan from The Jelly Queens:  The wife, mom, chef, homemaker and Jelly Queen was born and raised in Austin, TX. Most days she can be found in the kitchen making amazing dishes for friends and family from natural, healthy, fresh foods. Out of the kitchen she is a witty and experienced smart ass. She’ll keep you laughing while you devour her meal.

Todd Courtney, Owner/Founder at Todd’s Dirt:  The DIRT Man is the creator and owner of Todd’s DIRT Seasonings, which has been in business for over four years. Todd created the company, because he wanted a commercial seasoning that tasted great, that was not to salty and wanted a product to be 100% all natural, and gluten free. He created the character the “DIRT Man”, to be the crazy and fun face of the company. His presentations are high energy, funny and entertaining, along with be informative on cooking with quality ingredients in the kitchen or on the grill.

Paul Hellman, Owner at Gunter Wilhelm Cutlery: Gunter Wilhelm Cutlery is the originator of the triple tang handle which turbo charges your cooking experience. Paul has been teaching knife skills for 5 years.

Sue Williams, Owner at Dr. Sue’s Chocolate: Dr. Sue’s Chocolate exists to inspire people to a more healthful lifestyle. Their goal is to provide decadent, luxurious chocolates that people can feel good about eating. They do this by offering European-style, handmade artisan chocolates featuring all-natural ingredients and fine dark chocolate.

Stephan Pyles, Owner at Stephan Pyles Concepts:  Stephan Pyles, Chef/Owner of Stephan Pyles Concepts was named Esquire Magazine’s Chef of the Year for 2006, is a fifth generation Texan, pioneer of New American cooking and founding father of Southwestern Cuisine. He has created 15 restaurants in four cities over the past 26 years including Routh Street Cafe, Baby Routh, and Star Canyon. Texas Monthly named his eponymous restaurant Stephan Pyles, which opened in 2005 in the Arts District, “Best New Restaurant” in Texas that year.

Adam West, Chef/Owner at Unforsacon Bacon: In 2010, Chef West was given the opportunity to take the helm of the kitchen at Monarch restaurant inside Hotel ZaZa Houston and serve as Executive Chef. It was in Houston that he honed his skills to become the chef that he is today. Upon his departure from Hotel ZaZa, West and his family have returned home to Dallas and are venturing into to the exciting world of Mobile Cuisine with their food truck, “Unforsacon Bacon.”

Richard Chamberlain, Executive Chef/Owner at Chamberlain’s Steakhouse: The grandson of a Texas cattle rancher, Chef Richard Chamberlain followed his passion of cooking by working at notable restaurants and hotels such as The Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas, The Hotel Bel Air in Los Angelesand The Little Nell in Aspen. On opening Chamberlain’s Steak and Chop House in 1993, Chamberlain took to heart the staple of his native state – beef.

Anastacia Quinones, Chef at Victor Tangos:  In 2008, Anastacia became a full time Sous Chef position at Victor Tangos. Her freedom to express her knowledge for California cuisine flourished and is well illustrated on Victor Tangos menu today.

Abraham Salum, Founder of Salum Restaurant and Komali:   A highlight for chef/owner Abraham was becoming a US Citizen in 2010 as he celebrated the Fifth Anniversary of his popular namesake restaurant and opening Komali to showcase the contemporary Mexican cuisine he grew up with in early 2011.

Tre Wilcox, Chef at Marquee Grill: Former Top Chef contestant, just like the “bastardization of food,” he has no patience with the famous-for-being-famous shtick that is all too common even in the cooking world these days. He opened Marquee Grill in late April 2011 in Highland Park Village. Next, he plans to open a small 60- to 70-seat tasting restaurant some time down the line.

Bruno Davaillon, Executive Chef at Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek: Bruno Davaillon joined Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek as Executive Chef in October 2009. Prior to his arrival, he was the Executive Chef of Mix, an Alain Ducasse restaurant, at Mix at THE Hotel in Las Vegas. During his five-year tenure at Mix, Davaillon earned a Michelin star in 2008 and 2009 and won many accolades for the restaurant, including “Best Restaurant” by Travel + Leisure’s design awards.

Katherine Clapner, Pastry Chef/Owner at Dude, Sweet Chocolate: The opening of the flagship store Dude, Sweet Chocolate in Bishops Arts District in Dallas has propelled the brand to local cult status, which has hit the national radar screen as of late. Other than that, D Magazine Best Of 2010 & 2011 is under her belt, and a google of Dude, Sweet reveals countless blog postings, editorial column inches, fanatic fan babblings, and, what seems to be, one of the most intriguing new brands to launch in the foodie world.