Indulge in the World of Celebrity Chefs!

“Yan Can Cook, So Can You!” has always been the motto of Martin Yan, chef extraordinaire and popular television host recognized from Shanghai to San Francisco. Promoting Chinese cuisine, making it easy for the cook and tasty for the guests has been his life-long mission. Born in Guangzhou in Southern China, Chef Yan is technically a second generation ‘culinarian,’ who was first inspired by his mother in the tiny kitchen of their family restaurant.

After receiving his formal restaurant training in Hong Kong, Chef Yan immigrated to Calgary, Canada where on one snowy day he was asked to appear in a daytime news program to demonstrate Chinese cooking. The rest, as they say, was television history. From that small station in Canada, the Yan Can Cook Show grew to become one of the most popular cooking programs on public television, both in North America and on the global stage. It has won the James Beard Award for Best Food Documentary Show for two consecutive seasons.

In 2003, Chef Andrew Warner attended the Arizona Culinary Institute in North Scottsdale. He spent the first part of his career at the AAA Five Diamond Fairmont Scottsdale Princess. Andrew credits much of his experience to his mentor, Executive Chef Reed Groban, who helped him rotate through several nationally accredited restaurants. Working at the AAA Four Diamond La Hacienda, he developed a passion for unique regional Mexican cuisine. Andrew is still able to tap into that passion when Tommy Bahama celebrates regional Mexican-inspired dishes every September. Some of the dishes Andrew has developed for this special menu include Lobster Flautas, Chiles Guero, and the Pork Tomahawk served with Salsa Macha, Sweet Potato & Corn Tamales.

After 11 years with Tommy Bahama, Andrew has been a globetrotter for the company. He led the kitchens in NYC, Honolulu, and Scottsdale, AZ, over the first five years of his tenure at Tommy Bahama. Chef Andrew now resides in Newport Beach, CA, as the Corporate Chef for the iconic luxury island-inspired brand. He is currently overseeing Culinary Development for both the Tommy Bahama Restaurants and Tommy Bahama Marlin Bars. Chef Andrew’s cooking inspiration comes from the ethnic and cultural diversity found throughout the company, and he prefers to work with seasonal ingredients that pair well with the island-inspired concept. As the company grows, Chef Andrew and the team will open the first Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa in Indian Wells in November 2023.

Chef Michael Hung began his culinary career in New York City, where he dropped out of culinary school to do extended stages at acclaimed restaurants Daniel and Aquavit. Michael then followed his heart to San Francisco in 2005 and joined Traci Des Jardins’s James Beard Award-winning team at Jardiniere. His career continued for nearly a decade in San Francisco, culminating with his appointment as Chef de Cuisine at Roland Passot’s Michelin-starred La Folie.

In late-2013, Michael left San Francisco for Los Angeles to open Faith & Flower, where under his leadership the restaurant was honored Best New Restaurant by Esquire magazine, Los Angeles Magazine, and Travel + Leisure Magazine. In 2015, he opened Viviane in the Avalon Hotel in Beverly Hills, earning a superlative review from LA Times’s Jonathan Gold, garnering Best Hotel Restaurant by LA Weekly Magazine, and was recognized by SF Chronicle food critic Michael Bauer as one of LA’s best restaurants.

Daphne Brogdon explores the intersection of comedy and culinary.  As the host of Food Network’s “Daphne Dishes,” she showed viewers how to cook for their families employing her experience in restaurants and stand-up.  She has appeared on “Beat Bobby Flay,” “The Kitchen”, and a variety of shows on the Cooking Channel including, “Food: Fact or Fiction.”

A seasoned TV Host, Improviser, and Stand-Up she is the widow of Chef Mark Peel, with whom she collaborated on several restaurants and had two children.

Daphne was the first comedic mom vlogger with “Coolmom” and “Momversation.”  She co-created a pop-up, Weed to Table, where she uses the properties of cannabis to enhance flavors.  Daphne is an amateur forager and regularly uses common weeds in her cooking. She volunteers to cook for Meals on Wheels and is heading up a scholarship fund in her late husband’s name for The Collins College of Hospitality Management at Cal Poly Pomona. She can be found in the following places online. @coolmomdotcom on Youtube, @daphbrog on IG and Tik Tok

Chef Andre Carthen a.k.a. the Fit Chef, is featured in Kathy Ireland’s book “Real Solutions for Busy Moms: Your Guide to Success and Sanity,” and Janet Jackson’s first book, NY Times #1 Best Seller “True You” where he contributed over 30 recipes for a healthy meal plan.

“True You” takes Celebrity Chef Andre’s exquisite recipes and transforms them into something anyone can do if they have a desire to stay healthy and lean while eating the foods they love. Chef Andre is the only African American to be appointed to the Nutrisystem Success Chef’s Council. Recently asked to be the guest chef for St. John’s Hospital’s Gala “Beyond the Stars” at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

He is often asked to bring his culinary awareness to the media and has appeared on popular radio & television programs like “Today Show,” “Access Hollywood”, “Anderson Cooper”, “Soap Talk”, “EXTRA”, “Inside Hollywood” and much more!

If you’ve tasted Lance’s killer breakfast sandwiches and tender biscuits at Biscuit and Counter pop-ups around the Coachella Valley then you know first-hand how talented he is. What you may not know is he hails from the food mecca of the Bay Area, where he was named one of Esquire’s “Rising Star Chefs,” and brings a wealth of culinary experience. He’s spent the majority of his career working in some of Northern California’s most prestigious dining venues: Chateau Souverain alongside Gary Danko, The Restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton San Francisco, Campton Place, and as the founding chef at Moose’s restaurant in San Francisco.

Scott Robertson opened The Ritz-Carlton in Rancho Mirage as a sous chef in 1988 and worked at Wyndham Palm Springs as chef de cuisine. He was executive chef at Indian Wells, Chaparral, and Avondale country clubs and executive sous chef for Indian Ridge Country Club. In the early 1990s, he cooked for Presidents Carter, Reagan, Clinton, Obama, and Ford at Mission Inn in Riverside.

His experience as executive chef at Eisenhower Medical Center and Heart Hospital of the Desert led him to open New Leaf Catering 20 years ago. New Leaf has earned numerous awards, including gold and silver medals from the American Culinary Federation. The American Culinary Federation with a designation of Certified Executive Chef has recognized Scott.

Inspired by upbeat 1960s-style supper clubs, The Tropicale Restaurant was introduced to Palm Springs in 2007 and has since become an institution. Its hip, swanky décor is the setting for its distinctive World Cuisine. The menu is a provocative mix of zesty influences from around the world and is the culmination of a lifetime of cooking by its chef, Tony Di Lembo.

At a very young age, Tony developed a passion for food and sealed his fate in the kitchen. He has boiled down forty-plus years of professional cooking and globe-trotting to present a repertoire of weekly, seasonal specials—from luscious comfort foods of his childhood to the exotic flavors of the cuisines of the world, foods that make you feel happy—dishes you’ll fall in love with and put a smile on your face.

He has also published the Tropicale Restaurant Cookbook  spotlighting some of the restaurant’s best recipes, and more recently authored the award-winning Running Through the Swinging Doors, a literary voyage that chronicles his years of adventures and professional pandemonium in a witty and insightful behind-the and insightful behind-the-scenes journey into the soul of the restaurant. Tony was trained at the Culinary Institute of America.

Antonello Zito is an Italian native, born and raised in Putignano, a town in the Bari district of Puglia. His life started miraculously; despite his mother experiencing a severe hemorrhage and both their lives hanging in the balance, both Antonello and his mother survived the ordeal. As an only child, Antonello’s childhood was enriched by his close relationship with his grandmother, Maria, and their family country house, where his culinary journey began at the tender age of eight. Antonello’s life took another significant turn when he met Keisha Smith, the woman who would become his wife and life partner.

After their marriage, Antonello left his beloved Puglia and moved to the United States to start a new chapter with Keisha. They settled in Lake Arrowhead, bringing along their loyal canine companion, Stella. Stella held a special place in Antonello’s heart. She had been with him since her birth, providing constant companionship, unconditional love, and peace. Their bond was strong, and Stella’s presence added joy and comfort to Antonello’s life. Once settled in Lake Arrowhead, Antonello noted a lack of authentic Italian cuisine. Seeing this as an opportunity to share his culinary skills and passion for Italian food, he started by cooking for his wife. His talent didn’t go unnoticed, and before long, he decided to open a restaurant to bring the flavors of Italy to the locals and visitors of Lake Arrowhead. His restaurant became a hit, and the fame of Antonello’s authentic Italian dishes began to spread across the region. The buzz reached as far as Palm Springs, prompting Antonello to open a second restaurant location there.

His culinary journey, which had its humble beginnings in his family’s country house in Puglia, had led him across the ocean to sharing his love for Italian food with the people of Southern California. Antonello Zito’s life story is one of resilience, love, and passion. From his miraculous birth to his success as a restaurateur in the United States, his journey is a testament to the power of perseverance and the pursuit of one’s passions.

Chef Mitchell Battersby is an esteemed culinary artist with over 30 years of professional experience. He received his training at the acclaimed Cordon Bleu, where he honed his skills and developed a deep understanding of the art of cooking.

Chef Mitch is best known as the talented host and chef of the popular online healthy cooking show, Neighbors Cooking. Through this platform, he shares his passion for creating delicious and nutritious meals that inspire and delight his audience.

In addition to his online presence, Chef Mitch has also achieved recognition in the culinary world through various competitions. He proudly placed 3rd in Chef Carla Hall’s highly acclaimed “Favorite Chef” competition, showcasing his exceptional talent and ingenuity.

With his extensive experience and creativity, Chef Mitch has served as a personal chef to numerous celebrities, bringing his culinary expertise directly to their tables. His exquisite dishes are a testament to his dedication and meticulous attention to detail.

Chef Mitch’s style can best be described as innovative, adventurous, and precise. He effortlessly blends flavors, creating harmonious taste experiences that captivate the palate. His commitment to culinary magic and his ability to elevate even the simplest ingredients make his dishes truly extraordinary.

Chef Mitchell brings his wealth of expertise and passion to your plate, as he continues to push the boundaries of flavor and deliver culinary excellence.