Desert Sun staff
| Palm Springs Desert Sun
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The Palm Springs Food & Wine Festival is proud to welcome a growing list of celebrity chefs to the roster for its upcoming event on Nov. 15 and 16.
Proceeds from the event will benefit The Society of Fellows/The Culinary Institute of America, Les Dames d’Escoffier International Palm Springs Chapter and The LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert.
“Working each year with amazing, talented and world renown chefs is a great privilege,” said festival Executive Producer Jeff Hocker, known for his long expertise in event production and the culinary arts. “Each of our chefs have excelled in the culinary world and have built enterprises that span the country and international cuisine landscape, including Angelo Sosa, who recently opened Tia Carmen in Indian Wells, but is best known for being the founding chef and partner in the Michelin-listed Añejo restaurant in NYC.”
Iconic culinarian, author and entrepreneur Susan Feniger may be best known for her Modern Mexican concept, Border Grill restaurants, trucks and catering, which she runs with her business partner of more than 40 years, Mary Sue Milliken. Now with locations in Las Vegas and Los Angeles, Border Grill continues to serve street food-inspired regional Mexican cuisine with a commitment to sustainability and the best quality ingredients.
Nik Sharma is a culinary powerhouse — a James Beard finalist and best-selling author of “Season,” “The Flavor Equation” and “Veg-table.” A former molecular biologist turned flavor architect, he is the creator of the award-winning blog Nik Sharma Cooks (formerly A Brown Table) and is an editor in residence at America’s Test Kitchen.
Cameroon-born actor, singer-songwriter and chef Andy Allo is making waves across film, music and culinary arts. Known for her starring role in Amazon Prime Video’s “Upload” and as Lt. Wendy Seager on NBC’s “Chicago Fire,” Allo’s diverse career includes a redefining of Cameroonian fine dining through her culinary venture Aköne.
You may recognize Chef Joe Sasto from his appearance on “Chef Grudge Match,” his win on Food Network’s “Chopped” and his time competing on NBC’s “Top Chef” and “Top Chef All-Stars.” He was recognized by Food Network for its first “Hot List” in 2022. Sasto has developed a high-end customizable pasta and pizza tool line with well-known knife maker and blacksmith Doghouse Forge. He also launched the puffed pasta snack Tantos.
Celebrated chef Elizabeth Falkner was born in San Francisco, grew up in Los Angeles and worked her way up in San Francisco’s top kitchens before opening her first restaurant, Citizen Cake, in 1997. A decade later, she opened four more restaurants in San Francisco and New York. She has competed and judged for the last 15 years on many television cooking competition programs, including “Tournament of Champions,” “Iron Chef,” “Next Iron Chef,” “Top Chef Masters” and more for Food Network, Cooking Channel, Bravo and NBC.
The Palm Springs Food & Wine Festival would not be possible without the support of the City of Palm Springs, All-Clad, US Foods, Beck Development, Stella Artois, Maker’s Mark, Prime Time Produce, Stölzle Lausitz, Chill Bar Palm Springs and Reforma, Town Real Estate and Stars Travel, Sun Community Federal Credit Union, AAA, Costco Wholesale, Palm Springs Disposal, Gravitas Wine Company, Ingleside Estate and Avalon Palm Springs, Bright Event Rentals, Mike Thompson RV Super Stores and more.
Media Partners include Los Angeles Magazine, Locale Magazine, KCBS 740 AM, KESQ News Channel 3, MeTV Radio 103.1 FM, KGAY 106.5 FM and 92.1 FM, Gay Desert Guide, Desert Charities News, CV Independent, The Desert Sun, Marker Broadcasting, Alpha Media, The Standard Magazine, Desert Business Association, Visit Palm Springs, Visit Greater Palm Springs and more.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit palmspringsfoodandwine.org.