Awards & Recognition
★James Beard Foundation Award Best Chef: Great Lakes 2015
★Food & Wine Best New Chef 2010
★Bon Appetit Best New Restaurant 2009 (Greenhouse Tavern)
★Michelin Guidebook inclusion 2021 (Adorn)
★Multiple James Beard nominations 2008-2014
★Rising Star Chef awards from Restaurant Hospitality and GAYOT 2007
★24 in 24: Last Chef Standing Season 2 champion 2025
Notable Facts
→James Beard Award-winning chef with restaurant empire spanning Cleveland and Chicago
→Chef Partner at Kindling in Willis Tower, Chicago since 2023
→Owned multiple acclaimed Cleveland restaurants: Greenhouse Tavern, Noodlecat, Trentina
→Food Network personality on Tournament of Champions, Chopped, Bobby's Triple Threat
→Author of two cookbooks: Noodlekids Cookbook and House of Vinegar
→Former engineering student who switched to culinary arts
→Trained under Charlie Palmer and worked with Michael Symon
→Trentina closed in 2019 after 5-year run
→Currently based in Chicago with Fifty/50 Group partnership