Born and raised in Washington, Chef Blaine Wetzel’s career began in the kitchen at the young age of 14. After working at the acclaimed NOMA restaurant in Copenhagen, Chef Wetzel knew that he wanted to return to the Puget Sound area where he grew up. The Willows Inn caught his eye due to its small…
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Florida native, Chef Eric Frier had a love of food from a young age but did not immediately pursue a career in the culinary industry. After attending college, Chef Frier decided to pursue a culinary program. He set out to learn all he could about the craft. Following that, he came to Boston in 2010…
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Chicago native, Chef Justin Cogley, traveled the world as a professional ice skater before settling into his chef position. During his time touring with ‘Disney on Ice’, Chef Cogley was exposed to new flavors and cuisines as well as a myriad of food markets and international techniques. Upon his return, he enrolled at the Western…
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Chef Jacob Harth has made it his mission to tackle the world’s seafood sustainability. As a young chef, Harth set out to understand where the seafood for many restaurants was coming from. He took the education he learned from the fishermen to open his own seafood restaurant, Erizo, in 2019. Erizo does things a bit…
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Chef Perry Bateman began by working in restaurants owned by grandparents, aunts, and uncles in Maui. He was mentored by his step-father who taught him the basics. Landing his first job at Mama’s Fish House at 18 years old in the pantry as a sous chef, the owners quickly identified him as someone who could…
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A native of Denver, Chef Sheila Lucero attributes her love of cooking to her father. After gaining a degree in biology at Florida International University, she returned to Colorado to enroll at the Colorado Art Institute. She began at JAX Fish House as a line cook. In 2009, she was named Executive Chef. She is instrumental…
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While familiar favorites like salmon and tuna will never be off menus, consumers are consistently looking for more options. Fish like branzino, red-fish, Arctic Char, and barramundi appear on more menus, and octopus is now the fastest-growing shellfish mentioned. Clearly, US seafood palates are expanding, and restaurants should keep a close eye on the trends. …
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