Celebrity Chefs

CureDuchenne partners with notable top chefs from around the world for the Napa Wine Series.

Chef Ken Frank - La Toque

Chef Ken Frank – La Toque

Since becoming a chef in the mid-1970’s, Ken Frank has earned a stellar reputation for his personalized style of cooking, grounded in the French cuisine he grew to know and love while living in France as a teenager. Frank first achieved national acclaim when he was Chef of La Guillotine Restaurant at age 21 in 1977. At that time, he was a pioneer, insisting on using only the freshest, seasonal, quality ingredients. He was the original Chef at Michael’s in Santa Monica, considered the Los Angeles birthplace of “California Cuisine,” which he left in 1979 to open the first La Toque on the Sunset Strip at age 23. After a 14-year run, Frank sold the original La Toque in 1994 and spent the next year working for The House of Blues. In 1996, he opened the award-winning Fenix at the Argyle Hotel. He finally heeded the call of the wine country and moved north to open a new La Toque in Rutherford in 1998. After a successful ten-year run in Rutherford, Frank moved his signature restaurant to the new Westin Verasa, Napa in the fall of 2008.  

  

La Toque within The Westin Verasa Napa is a showcase for Chef Frank’s modern French cuisine and his passion for fine wine. This “French chef in a California body,” as he likes to call himself, has pushed his cuisine in a more harmonious wine-friendly direction and the restaurant has become known for its savvy wine pairings. 

Chef David Shim  -  Michelin Star awarded COTE

Chef David Shim – Michelin Star awarded COTE

A Seoul native, Shim began his culinary career as a line cook at Gramercy Tavern, followed by stints as chef tournant at Veritas, master cook at L’atelier de Joël Robuchon at the Four Seasons Hotel, and executive chef of Kristabelli. After working as chef de cuisine for M. Wells Steakhouse, Shim was approached by Simon Kim to open his dream Korean steakhouse, where he now runs two Michelin-starred kitchens in New York and Miami with the studied intensity of a center back.

Under his culinary leadership, COTE has earned numerous glowing accolades, including GQ’s Best New Restaurants in America, two stars from The New York Times and New York Magazine, Thrillist’s Best Steakhouses in America and a semi-finalist nod from the James Beard Foundation Awards for Best New Restaurant.

Aimee Olexy

Aimee Olexy

One of the most recognized personalities in Philadelphia dining, Aimee has the ability to send the “fine-dining elite into effusions of breathless adjectives,” according to Philadelphia magazine. Her dynamic restaurant brand has evolved dramatically over the past 20 years, growing into a family of distinctive restaurants that celebrates food at its most elemental.  

Talula’s Table, her hybrid gourmet café and BYOB in Kennett Square, hosts nightly 12-person tastings, so incredibly coveted that it has been dubbed it “The Toughest Table in America.” Talula’s Garden, which Olexy opened in partnership with Stephen Starr in 2011, aims to capture a small-town sense of community on an ambitious downtown scale. Talula’s Daily, the bright and sunny café that opened next door in 2013, provides coffee, local artisanal groceries, fresh-baked breads and wholesome take-home meals in a space that transforms into a homey supper club by night. Olexy and Starr opened The Love in Rittenhouse Square in 2017.  

No matter where you’re dining, don’t be surprised if you catch Olexy tableside, rhapsodizing about her newest cheeses to groups of enchanted diners. “I work a lot and I love it,” says Olexy. “My work is who I am — and that is the only way I know to live.” 

Chef Chris Shepherd - James Beard Award-Winner

Chef Chris Shepherd – James Beard Award-Winner

Midwest-raised, James Beard Award-winning Chef Chris Shepherd has helped change the landscape of the Houston culinary scene since opening Underbelly in 2012. Chef Shepherd was named one of the 10 Best New Chefs in America by Food & Wine in 2013 and was then awarded the 2014 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southwest. In 2019, all three of his restaurants—UB Preserv, One Fifth Mediterranean and Georgia James—nabbed the No. 1 spot on Texas Monthly‘s list of the Best New Restaurants in Texas, and Georgia James was included on GQ‘s list of the best new restaurants in America. He was a semifinalist for the James Beard Award for Outstanding Chef in 2019 and was named Robb Report‘s Chef of the Year the same year. Chris’ foundation Southern Smoke has distributed more than $7.7 million—both directly to people in the food and beverage industry in need via the Emergency Relief Fund and to organizations that represent the needs of people in the industry.

Chef Craig Strong – Ocean at Main

Chef Craig Strong – Ocean at Main

Craig Strong is one of Orange County’s most tenured and decorated chefs. From the coasts of California to Washington, DC, and Barcelona to Hong Kong, Chef Strong has cooked all over the world. With each locale, he strengthened his classical technique and added to his repertoire a mastery of exotic and global flavors. Prior to opening his first restaurant, Ocean at Main in 2018, Chef Strong’s star-studded 25-year career began working in luxury hotels and resorts around the world. He earned a Michelin star to his credit two years in a row during his time at The Langham Huntington Hotel & Spa in Pasadena in 2007 and 2008. The following year, he accepted a position as Executive Chef of Studio at the Montage in Laguna Beach and was honored as a semifinalist for the 2009 James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef – West. During his nine years at Studio, he earned and upheld the Forbes Travel Guide’s highest honor – a coveted 5-Star rating. Having gained national and critical acclaim as a premier chef and restaurateur, Chef Craig Strong continues to distinguish himself in Orange County’s diverse culinary landscape.

Chef Casey Thompson – Top Chef

Chef Casey Thompson – Top Chef

Chef Casey Thompson is a former finalist and three-time competitor on the hit show “Top Chef.” She owns a private dining business, “Chef Casey Thompson,” and enjoys creating dishes using farm-fresh ingredients. She has cooked her way through Napa Valley, learning the art of pairing farmed food with wines.

Chef Andrew Sutton – Napa Rose, Disneyland Resort

Chef Andrew Sutton – Napa Rose, Disneyland Resort

“Food is a love story between the guest, the chef and the winemaker…it feeds the soul, nourishes the body and delights the eye, while inviting a beautiful wine to pair naturally. After all, the culinary arts are the only art forms that touch all the senses.” Sutton is the Culinary Director of Disney Signature Restaurants; he continues to have an incredible journey with the cast and creative Chefs at the Disneyland Resort. Chef Sutton joined Disney in 2000 to create Napa Rose restaurant at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, followed by Carthay Circle Restaurant and Lounge at Disney California Adventure Park 2012. Sutton took over the newly renovated Club 33 in 2014. Most recently in 2017, he opened 21 Royal—a unique, private group dining experience in Disneyland. Sutton has been awarded the prestigious Antonin Carême Medal from the American Culinary Federation as well as the Golden Foodies Chef of the year.

Chef Amar Santana – Broadway, Laguna Beach

Chef Amar Santana – Broadway, Laguna Beach

Chef Amar Santana is one of Orange County’s hottest rising stars who is undeniably transforming the OC culinary scene into a food destination. Chef Amar is the Executive Chef and Partner at Broadway by Amar Santana in Laguna Beach, CA and Vaca in Costa Mesa, CA. Chef Amar has traveled the world collecting inspiration and accolades, including a position in the final round of Bravo’s Top Chef. His globally influenced menus include unexpected flavor profiles and artful presentations, reflecting his zeal for food and for life.

Chef Azmin Ghahreman - Sapphire Culinary Group

Chef Azmin Ghahreman – Sapphire Culinary Group

In 2007, after decades of holding executive culinary positions at five-star resorts around the globe, Chef Azmin Ghahreman opened his restaurant, Sapphire Laguna, and the adjacent gourmet specialty shop, Sapphire Pantry, to share foods and ingredients inspired by cultures from around the world. Since the beginning, the restaurant and shop were embraced by the Orange County community and visitors alike. The seasonally evolving menu, featuring globally-inspired cuisine, incorporates the freshest ingredients available, many of which are found at local farms, specialty markets and artisan suppliers. In addition to providing world-class cuisine, he is just as committed to bettering childhood nutrition, and in 2008 founded Sapphire at School. The nutrition-focused lunch program currently partners with nine schools in Orange County and prepares fresh and wholesome meals to more than 4,000+ students daily. Chef Azmin and his award-winning cuisine have received countless accolades and notable mentions in media including: Sunset, Relish, Orange Coast, Westways, Riviera Magazine, Los Angeles Times, and the Orange County Register, among others. Recently, he was featured in Laguna Beach Magazine as one of the top 10 most influential people of Laguna Beach for supporting the culture, collective well-being and future of the community.

Chef David Slay – Park Avenue Restaurant

Chef David Slay – Park Avenue Restaurant

Chef David Slay of Park Ave has designed a creative menu exclusive for this event. Chef Slay brings his well-earned reputation as one of the most creative and professional chefs in the world of food and entertaining to his work at Park Ave. restaurant which is consistently recognized for excellence and rated as one of the five best restaurants in Orange County in the annual Zagat survey. Chef Slay’s fresh, flavorful menu will complement the wines and bring the taste of Napa to Newport.