Top Chefs 2024

HIS STORY Chef John Bryant trained at Johnson and Wales University in Charleston, South Carolina. He ran a catering business in Johnson City for eight years then joined Bistro By the Tracks Catering two years ago. Last year, Bryant…
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HIS STORY Chef Alex Gass grew up in Oak Ridge, inspired by his mother and aunt’s cooking for their church. He started at Big Ed’s Pizza and Aubrey’s. Gass (guitar), Associate Chef Billy Krebs (bass), and his son, Assistant Manager…
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HIS STORY Chef Darin Hoagland’s grandparents and mother ran a hunting restaurant in California. “The kitchen, with them, was my comfort spot,” he recalls. After culinary school at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, he…
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HIS STORY Originally from Yakima, Washington, Chef Deron Little started cooking with a master chef at 15. He was a chef for hotels and country clubs, and a resident chef at Greenville Technical College in South Carolina before…
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THEIR STORY Chef Lucas Trombley, a Massachusetts native who grew up in Canada, attended Le Cordon Bleu in New Hampshire and worked under Jesse Newmister before catering for national acts on tour. He serves as Executive Chef of The Mill…
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HIS STORY Chef Robert McDonald grew up in Fountain City and got into cooking after his family built a gas grill into their back deck and he started grilling burgers for friends. McDonald was an actor at Central High and had stints in…
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THEIR STORY A Knoxville native, Chef Noah Goodfriend spent time with the Pizza Kitchen on Northshore, Downtown Grill & Brewery, and in the Earthfare kitchen before joining Point B for its opening in 2022. Chef Chris Cummins, a…
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HIS STORY Chef Jared Martin set foot in his first commercial kitchen at age 16, serving in an ice cream shop. Six months later he shifted to food. Martin spent time perfecting his craft in restaurants across the region, connecting with…
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