Step into a series of hands-on, interactive culinary experiences at the Publix Culinary Demonstration Stage, where Southern food traditions are reimagined. Learn approachable, crowd-pleasing recipes, sharpen your kitchen skills, and take home tips you can actually use. Enjoy chances to win prizes and giveaways.
Same Festival. Back at our New Location. Our Signature Tasting Tents presented by Goya Foods are back at The Home Depot Backyard!
Fernando Desa is the Corporate Executive Chef and Product Development Manager for Goya Foods. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, he celebrates the flavors of Latin American cuisine by combining his cultural heritage with global influences and creating approachable recipes home cooks can enjoy.
Recipe for Innovation Live, presented by Invesco QQQ
Monti Carlo
Spanglish: Recipes & Stories
Monti Carlo is the Food & Dining Editor at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, author of Spanglish: Recipes & Stories, and a multi-Telly Award-winning TV host. With a digital audience of more than 1.25 million, she's a leading voice in modern Puerto Rican cuisine, blending storytelling, journalism, and bold Boricua flavors.
Recipe for Innovation Live, presented by Invesco QQQ
Andrew Zimmern
Patty & Frank's
Andrew Zimmern is an Emmy-winning and four-time James Beard Award-winning chef, TV personality, writer, and advocate. Best known for the Bizarre Foods franchise, he has built a career exploring global food cultures and promoting understanding through cuisine while leading several media, hospitality, and philanthropic initiatives.
Recipe for Innovation Live, presented by Invesco QQQ
Eleazar Fuerte
Mike's Amazing
Eleazar Fuerte is Director of Culinary and Business Development at Mike's Amazing Foods/Chefler Foods. With more than 20 years of experience in renowned kitchens around the world, he creates globally inspired cuisine rooted in his Cuban heritage and leads the brand's culinary experiences at festivals nationwide.
Recipe for Innovation Live, presented by Invesco QQQ
Shawn Osbey
Chef Shawn Osbey Catering
Shawn Osbey is an Atlanta-based chef and culinary entrepreneur known as the "Traveling Chef." With more than a decade of experience creating memorable dining experiences around the world, he blends global influences with refined technique. A graduate of the Connecticut Culinary Institute, Chef Shawn has trained in renowned Las Vegas kitchens, including Charlie Palmer's Steak House, and is known for bringing bold flavors and elevated hospitality wherever he cooks.
Recipe for Innovation Live, presented by Invesco QQQ
Duane Nutter
Chef Duane Nutter is the co-owner and chef of Southern National in Atlanta’s Summerhill neighborhood. His award-winning and celebrated career includes helping launch One Flew South, the first U.S. airport restaurant recognized by the James Beard Foundation. A multi-time James Beard Award semifinalist and nominee, Nutter is known for a distinctive culinary style shaped by Southern flavors and influences from across the country. In 2024, he was also named Airport Chef of the Year by the Food & Beverage Awards.
Recipe for Innovation Live, presented by Invesco QQQ
Kardea Brown
Delicious Miss Brown
Kardea Brown is a two-time Emmy Award-winning TV host, New York Times bestselling author, and star of Food Network's Delicious Miss Brown. Inspired by her Gullah Geechee heritage, she celebrates the rich flavors and traditions of the South while bringing her own fresh perspective to classic dishes.
Recipe for Innovation Live, presented by Invesco QQQ
Ronald Hsu
Lazy Betty
Ron Hsu is the Executive Chef and Owner of Atlanta's one-MICHELIN-star Lazy Betty and author of Down South + East. Known for his contemporary tasting menus that blend Southern flavors with global influences, Hsu has earned national acclaim, including James Beard Award semifinalist recognition and multiple MICHELIN stars for Lazy Betty.
Recipe for Innovation Live, presented by Invesco QQQ
Fernando Desa
Goya Foods
Fernando Desa is the Corporate Executive Chef and Product Development Manager for Goya Foods. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, he celebrates the flavors of Latin American cuisine by combining his cultural heritage with global influences and creating approachable recipes home cooks can enjoy.
Monti Carlo is the Food & Dining Editor at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, author of Spanglish: Recipes & Stories, and a multi-Telly Award-winning TV host. With a digital audience of more than 1.25 million, she's a leading voice in modern Puerto Rican cuisine, blending storytelling, journalism, and bold Boricua flavors.
Andrew Zimmern is an Emmy-winning and four-time James Beard Award-winning chef, TV personality, writer, and advocate. Best known for the Bizarre Foods franchise, he has built a career exploring global food cultures and promoting understanding through cuisine while leading several media, hospitality, and philanthropic initiatives.
Eleazar Fuerte is Director of Culinary and Business Development at Mike's Amazing Foods/Chefler Foods. With more than 20 years of experience in renowned kitchens around the world, he creates globally inspired cuisine rooted in his Cuban heritage and leads the brand's culinary experiences at festivals nationwide.
Shawn Osbey is an Atlanta-based chef and culinary entrepreneur known as the "Traveling Chef." With more than a decade of experience creating memorable dining experiences around the world, he blends global influences with refined technique. A graduate of the Connecticut Culinary Institute, Chef Shawn has trained in renowned Las Vegas kitchens, including Charlie Palmer's Steak House, and is known for bringing bold flavors and elevated hospitality wherever he cooks.
Chef Duane Nutter is the co-owner and chef of Southern National in Atlanta’s Summerhill neighborhood. His award-winning and celebrated career includes helping launch One Flew South, the first U.S. airport restaurant recognized by the James Beard Foundation. A multi-time James Beard Award semifinalist and nominee, Nutter is known for a distinctive culinary style shaped by Southern flavors and influences from across the country. In 2024, he was also named Airport Chef of the Year by the Food & Beverage Awards.
Ron Hsu is the Executive Chef and Owner of Atlanta's one-MICHELIN-star Lazy Betty and author of Down South + East. Known for his contemporary tasting menus that blend Southern flavors with global influences, Hsu has earned national acclaim, including James Beard Award semifinalist recognition and multiple MICHELIN stars for Lazy Betty.
Kardea Brown is a two-time Emmy Award-winning TV host, New York Times bestselling author, and star of Food Network's Delicious Miss Brown. Inspired by her Gullah Geechee heritage, she celebrates the rich flavors and traditions of the South while bringing her own fresh perspective to classic dishes.
The chefs and culinary talent of 2025 bring the spirit of the festival to life—one bite, one pour, one unforgettable moment at a time. From rising stars to beloved icons, this year’s lineup is filled with creative energy and bold flavors that will keep you moving through every tasting experience.
Explore the full lineup below and get ready to taste what’s next.
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