Judges
2023 Judges
Jamie Bernstein
For more than 20 years, Jamie has been writing songs, poetry, music, and performing. Jamie grew up in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia, the heart of the Old-Timey music scene. His musical approach combines this strong folk element with the rhythms and themes of the city he has called home since 1996, New Orleans. Jamie’s songs have been featured in feature films and have been covered by grammy-winning artists. He fronts two bands that frequently perform in and around New Orleans, Future Cowboys, and Yakameiniacs. Jamie Bernstein also hosts a weekly radio show on 102.3FM.
James Clesi
James Clesi started CLESI’S as a “pop-up” in 2013 boiling his signature crawfish and serving his family’s famous jambalaya to the masses at bars and venues across the city. Since then, with the help of his brother Carlo and sister Sonya, CLESI’S SEAFOOD RESTAURANT & CATERING has become one the premier sources of AWARD-WINNING seafood and spirits New Orleans has to offer! With his restaurant located at 4323 Bienville Street and private event space, CLESI’S AT BOTTINELLI located at 139 Bottinelli Place.
Anthony Cruz
Co owner of Southerns and world class eater.
Bryan Dias
Bryan is the Host and Executive Producer of “The NOLADrinks Show with Bryan Dias." He is also co-executive Producer of Nitty Grits Podcasts – the podcast network of the Southern Food and Beverage Museum and the National Food and Beverage Foundation. President of the Raising Spirits Society, the charitable organizer and beneficiary of New Orleans Bourbon Festival.
Peggy Donovan
Bio coming soon.
Richard Dubus
3rd place in bourbon brawl cocktail contest, cocktail youtuber and blogger Gnome's Tavern, wrote e book "Gnome's Tavern volume 1" stand-up comedian
Jennifer Fruge
Long time member of the New Orleans Restaurant scene and foodie , currently sales consultant for Performance food service for the past 13 years.
Mitch Gibbs
Mitch Gibbs is a radio personality on WODT and WGSO New Orleans and currently hosts a weekly podcast recorded live at Drago’s downtown location inside the Hilton. Mitch loves all things sports.
Randy Goodwyn Jr
Born in southwest Louisiana, this Florida-college graduate moved to the New Orleans area to further his career in the motorcycle industry. Known by his family and friends as a true “foodie,” he’ll go to great lengths for the perfect meal or pair of shoes.
Meredith Hammock
I have been in the service industry for 25 years! Currently tending bar over at the House of Blues and helping out at Yeah You Right Events whenever I can.
Jason Harris
Over 25 years of restaurant and bar experience with the last 8 helping to lead the 3 Felipe's Taqueria locations here in NOLA.
Emily Hingle
Emily Hingle is a Louisiana native who loves experiencing the unique culture of New Orleans every day through food, drinks, and especially music. She has been with Where Y’at Magazine since 2009.
Star Hodgson
Star is a founding member and past President of the New Orleans Chapter of the United States Bartenders Guild (USBG), Star now serves the bartending community as a Chair of the USBG National Charity Foundation Board. She contributes to several online and print publications, has served as a judge for many esteemed cocktail competitions, teaches seminars at industry conferences, and is a blind tasting spirits judge for the Los Angeles International Spirits Competition.
Chef Duke LoCicero
Chef and owner of the New restaurant in metairie Dabs bistro and call Emily at Cafe Giovanni for 27 years in the French quarter award winning restaurant
Diane Lundeen
Lundeen is Petcetera’s pet pastry chef and baker. She is the lead designer for NOLA Bitch Couture, a doggy style design house, making creative apparel, accessories and toys for pets and people. Lundeen dedicates her spare time to charity and animal rescue, including Bad toThe Bone: Rescued on The Runway, a feast of food and fashion in which dogs from local rescues strut the catwalk in hopes of finding homes.
Andrew Marin
Andrew Marin writes about food and cocktails for Where Y’at Magazine. He is a former chef and bartender. He's judged Top Taco every year it's been held and is excited to judge Food Fight. Follow him @ndrewmarin on instagram for photos and live story updates from the festival.
Amy Mehrtens
The daughter of a chef and an army major, both of her parents were passionate cooks and exacting teachers. As they moved around from Germany to California, Georgia, Japan, Iowa, Virginia, and New York—Amy received an expansive education in the flavors and traditions of different regional cuisines. After pursuing a formal degree at the C.I.A., Amy dove into the world of large-scale banquets at the Beekman Arms and Delmater Inn in Rhinebeck, NY, and the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC. She found her way to New Orleans where she worked as a sous chef for Commander’s Palace. From there, she served as the Interim Executive Chef at Cafe Adelaide, before joining the Copper Vine team in 2018. Since 2020, Amy has served as the Executive Chef of both Copper Vine and Bonfire Elemental Events, the private dining and catering arm of Brechtel Hospitality. The daughter of a chef and an army major, both of her parents were passionate cooks and exacting teachers. As they moved around from Germany to California, Georgia, Japan, Iowa, Virginia, and New York—Amy received an expansive education in the flavors and traditions of different regional cuisines. After pursuing a formal degree at the C.I.A., Amy dove into the world of large-scale banquets at the Beekman Arms and Delmater Inn in Rhinebeck, NY, and the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC. She found her way to New Orleans where she worked as a sous chef for Commander’s Palace. From there, she served as the Interim Executive Chef at Cafe Adelaide, before joining the Copper Vine team in 2018. Since 2020, Amy has served as the Executive Chef of both Copper Vine and Bonfire Elemental Events, the private dining and catering arm of Brechtel Hospitality.
Malik Mingo
Malik is the host of the local talk show, "Great Day Louisiana," on WWL-TV in New Orleans. The show features everything that makes Louisiana great! From food, to cocktails & events, you can learn how to live your best life by watching the show! Malik has also interviewed several celebrities from Halle Berry to Tyler Perry and Kevin James. Malik was born in New Orleans, but moved to San Antonio, Texas when he was 9 years old, so he likes to say he is NOLA made and Texas raised! Prior to WWL, Malik worked in San Angelo, Texas as a morning anchor, reporter & weatherman. When Malik is not at work, you can find him at a local festival eating, enjoying live music or at home catching up on his very full DVR!
Leroy Mitchell
Leroy Mitchell was born and raised in Metairie, LA. On any given Sunday, Leroy can be found antagonizing opposing players at the Superdome dressed in black and gold with a giant whistle attached to his head. When he’s not dressed as the most recognizable Saint Supafan, he can be found holding court at Galatoire’s every Friday after a long work week at Heartland Payment Services. No one loves a great cocktail more than the Whistle Monsta.
Derrick J. Moss Sr
Bio coming soon.
Mac Nirandorn
With over two decades in the service industry and a voracious appetite, amateur food blogger, Mac Nirandorn has devoted the majority of his waking hours to exploring and discovering new tastes and cuisines. Born in Louisiana, but raised in Thailand in his earlier years, Nirandorn has been able to use that foundation to view cuisines with a multi-cultural perspective and palate. "The most honest view of a person you can get is through the food they eat!"
Jammer Orinitas
Jammer Orintas, Co-Owner of Theo’s Neighborhood Pizza, discovered his passion for food at an early age. In addition to operating 5 pizza restaurants in the Metro area, he is a self proclaimed taco expert. Theo’s Neighborhood Pizza has been recognized by The Gambit, New Orleans Magazine and The Times-Picyanue as one of the best pizza joints in the city.
Brett "Slab" Patron
Brett “Slab” Patron, co-founder of the 610 Stompers, comes from a long line of eaters and dancers. His grandparents are from Merida, located on the Mexican Yucatan Peninsula. Slab spent many Sundays throughout his life, cooking and eating traditional Mexican food, but he believes tacos can cover a diverse range of food from many cultures.
Ronnie Pendelton
New Orleans native and service industry vet of over 15 years. Food is not only a passion but therapy and Ronnie loves the language. He is currently a server and bartender at both Zasu & Piece of Meat.
Margie Perez
Margie Perez is a vivacious Singer and Songwriter specializing in a versatile blend of Blues, Pop, and Latin with a New Orleans Funky touch. Dubbed by Offbeat Magazine as "One of the hardest working musicians in New Orleans" she sings with many projects. She leads her own band which performs her original music and is also lead singer of the Latin big band Muévelo. She performs all over New Orleans and has made multiple Festival appearances such as The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and French Quarter Fest. . Margie is also a tour guide and leads a Music History walking Tour through the Treme and French Quarter. Check out her music and upcoming gigs at www.margieperez.com
Daren Porretto
New Orleans native Daren Porretto is the Chef de Cuisine at Saint John, the French Quarter’s newest hot spot serving haute-Creole cuisine. Growing up under a long line of New Orleans family cooks, Porretto mastered Cajun and Creole Louisiana staples at a young age in his grandparents’ kitchen. Porretto began his career at Commander’s Palace in 2010 as a line cook, quickly working his way up to a senior sous chef position. After eight years cooking professionally, he decided to fulfill a lifelong dream and pursue career opportunities in New York City. Back in New Orleans, Porretto joined the team at SoBou as Chef de Cuisine, where he worked until the COVID – 19 pandemic put his culinary career on hold. After some time on his own, he accepted the title of Chef de Cuisine at Eric Cook’s newest venture, Saint John, where he leads the team cooking haute-Creole cuisine in the restaurant’s open kitchen table.
Andrew Quaid
The Super Saints Fan Mr. Everythang helps to keep the Who Dat Nation Motivated in the Dome and everywhere he goes. A transplant to New Orleans in March 2005, he quickly fell in love with Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, Your NOLA Saints & Pelicans, and “Everything” that New Orleans has to offer. King of the Krewe of O.A.K. (Robustus the EveryThang XXXVIII) for 2024. So please come out to MidSummer Mardi Gras in August!
Kim Ranjibar
For over a decade, Kim's been eating, photographing, and writing about food in New Orleans. Her work's appeared in local publications such as Where Y'at Magazine, New Orleans Living Magazine, NewOrleans.com, and Louisiana Kitchen & Culture. Follow her blog sucktheheads.com and follow her Instagram accounts @sucktheheads and @nolafoodporn.
Matt Ray
Matt Ray is one of the Experience Team Leads of the Sazerac House and has worked in hospitality for over twenty years, from Walt Disney World to local James Beard winner "Cure". He is WSET Lvl3 Certified in Spirits, a WSET Certified Educator for levels 1&2 in Spirits, CSS certified, an Executive Steward of the Stave & Thief Society, a U.S. Bartender's Guild Certified Spirits Professional, and a level-1 sommelier. He is on the board of directors of the New Orleans Chapter of the US Bartender's Guild. Matt holds a Master’s Degree in Teaching and still loves education.
Jas Rogers
Chef Jas Rogers is a culinary virtuoso with a passion for flavors that knows no bounds. Former owner of the vegan concept Coalesce Goods, she is renowned for her innovative creations and impeccable palate when it comes to vegan/vegetarian cuisine. Chef Jas has been featured in GQ Magazine, New Orleans Magazine, The Gambit, and countless other publications. Currently, she’s feeding the taste buds of many with her sauce and seasoning brand, Saucexdat.
Deborah Schumacher
Ms. Schumacher arrived in NOLA originally from Southern California. She has made New Orleans her permanent home since 1984. Ms Schumacher produced food service events for the Olympics, Super Bowls, Microsoft and Ford Motor Company to mention a few. Her passion is the restaurant business. She owns and operates Slim Goodies Diner on historic Magazine Street in New Orleans, which features an eclectic blend of the traditional American Diner fare paired with the Creole influences of Louisiana.
Jason Seither
Owner and chef Jason Seither spent his early life on the Bayou (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayou) cooking with his mother and boiling crawfish with his father. Seither’s Seafood in New Orleans uses the best local, traditional ingredients while Jason incorporates his own wild flair into his meals. Jason's also a huge music fan and his restaurant hosts nightly gigs for local musicians on the patio. You can catch Jason and Seither's Seafood on an episode of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives with Guy Fieri.
Chelsea Shannon
Chelsea Shannon is new to the food team at NOLA.com, but like many, she's no stranger to food. Chelsea has a vast knowledge of cuisines and cocktails that she's collected after years of living in California before moving down here.
Kanwarpal Singh
Bio coming soon.
Amy Sins
Amy is a chef, author, and owner of Langlois Catering, named one of the “Best Cooking Schools Around the World,” by Travel + Leisure. She can also be found rallying the troupes to provide aid to disaster victims in Louisiana and around the gulf. She was also named a “Southern of the Year” by Southern Living Magazine.
Liza Smith
Liza is a marketer in the food/beverage/restaurant space, and is also a food influencer on Instagram (@_ForkItOver_) where she spreads her love of all things food and drink in New Orleans and beyond! As a connoisseur of deliciousness, and with 14 years of experience in the industry, she is always excited to try places new and old. Follow along on her Instagram for more!
Scotty "Sparky" Sparks
Scott “Sparky” Sparks aka NOLA’s King of Tailgating” is the quintessential southern gentleman known for his off-the-hook tailgates and frequent appearances on local TV plus the Food Network & Amazon Prime.
Daniel Victory
Brand ambassador for DuNord social spirits. He is the founder of Victory and the New Orleans Drink Lab. He is dedicated to teaching the history, as well as the art of cocktail making.
Nils Weinstein
Owner and head chef at ‘Oh Boy PoBoy’s’ pop up restaurant
Micah Williams
Owner of Hard Core BBQ. Enthusiast of all things food.
Robert Witkowski
Robert Witkowski is Creative Director at Where Y’at Magazine. From Jazz music and city's history to Louisiana food and the muddy Mississippi, he has a love of all things New Orelans, sharing his passion through his work and play. Having lived in culinary destinations including Chicago; Boston; New York City; and Portland Maine, he is honored to be included in judging this event.
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