Meet the Fall 2025 Chef Bootcamp Participants

This September, 17 chefs dedicated to advocacy, sustainability, and food system change will gather at Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming in Cold Spring, New York for the James Beard Foundation’s 29th Chef Bootcamp for Policy and Change®. For 13 years, this program has trained and inspired culinary leaders from across the country to mobilize in support of policy decisions that impact our industry and food system. Read on to meet our fall 2025 Chef Bootcamp cohort!

James Beard Leadership Award Winner
Christa Barfield
FarmerJawn Agriculture
West Chester, PA 

Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Alum
Codi Bates
Bates Co.
Lawrence, KS

Bob Bennett
Zingerman’s Roadhouse
Ann Arbor, MI

Jermond Booze
Vinyl Tasting and Detroit Food Academy
Detroit, MI

Ashley Brown
Four by Brother Luck
Colorado Springs, CO

Sera Cuni
Cafe Root Cellar and The Root Cellar Cafe & Catering
Pittsboro, NC

James Beard Award Nominee®
Hunter Evans
Elvie’s, Mayflower Cafe, Levure Bottle Shop, and Good Bar
Jackson, MS

James Beard Award Nominee®
Miguel Guerra
MITA
Washington, D.C.

James Beard Award Nominee®
Sam Hart
Counter-
Charlotte, NC

Christian Irabién
Amparo Fondita 
Washington, D.C.

Quentin Love
The SoulFood Lounge I & II
Chicago, IL

Rashe Malcolm
Rashe's Cuisine, LLC
Athens, GA

Miranda Maszk
La Soupe
Cincinnati, Ohio

Shani Patterson
Blue LLama Jazz Club
Ann Arbor, MI

Grace Ramirez
Tamalito Inc. 
New York, NY

James Beard Award Nominee®
Kate Romane
Black Radish Kitchen and Fet Fisk
Pittsburgh, PA

James Beard Award Winner®
Rob Rubba
Oyster Oyster
Washington, D.C.