Chefs & Culinary Experts
Food is a way to talk about creativity, craft and running a business. These chefs include James Beard Award winners, a pastry chef, television personalities and cookbook authors, and they suit hosted dinners, cooking demonstrations and conference keynotes.
Chefs & Culinary Experts available to book
Showing 1–16 of 16 chefs & culinary experts
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Booking guide
How to choose and book a celebrity chef
What chefs and culinary experts bring to your event
A chef at your event gives guests a shared experience and a story. Celebrity chefs and culinary experts can headline a keynote, run a cooking demonstration or host a live food session that people remember.
Michael Symon, Geoffrey Zakarian and Duff Goldman bring television fame and bestselling cookbooks. Rocco DiSpirito, Karen Akunowicz and Carla Hall are award-winning chefs and authors, and Andrew Zimmern is known for food television. For barbecue, Meathead Goldwyn and Ryan Mitchell bring pitmaster expertise, and professional food demonstrators such as Gesine Bullock-Prado and Pyet DeSpain suit hands-on sessions.
How to choose the right celebrity chef
Start with the experience you want guests to have, then narrow the list with four questions:
- Format. A keynote, a cooking demonstration, a Q&A and a hosted dinner need different chefs. Pick the one who fits.
- Cuisine and style. Baking, barbecue, fine dining and home cooking each suit a different audience.
- Audience and venue. Corporate events, galas and conferences have different space and equipment needs. Ask what each chef needs on site.
- Budget and logistics. Compare the fee ranges and travel locations on each profile, and check whether a virtual session fits your event.
Booking a celebrity chef
Fees vary widely by chef and format. Headline television chefs start around $40,000, and many culinary experts and food demonstrators cost less. Travel is usually additional for in-person events.
Open a speaker’s profile and select Check Availability to send your date, location and event details. A Mollie Plotkin Group agent confirms availability, the fee and travel, and handles contracts and logistics through to the event.
Celebrity chef and culinary expert FAQs
How much does it cost to hire a celebrity chef?
Fees vary by chef and format. Headline television chefs start around $40,000, and other culinary experts and food demonstrators cost less. Each profile shows the current fee range where it is published.
How far in advance should we book?
As early as possible. In-demand speakers commit to dates months ahead, and booking early gives you more choice and more time for travel planning and a prep call.
Can a chef do a cooking demonstration instead of a keynote?
Yes. Many chefs and professional food demonstrators offer live demonstrations. Ask what equipment and space the session needs when you check availability.
Can culinary experts present virtually?
Many can. Use the In Person or Virtual filter to see who offers virtual sessions, and check the profile for the virtual fee.
What is the difference between a celebrity chef and a food demonstrator?
Celebrity chefs are known from television and cookbooks and often keynote. Professional food demonstrators focus on live, hands-on cooking sessions for corporate groups.
Didn’t find the right speaker?
Tell us about your event and our agents will build a custom shortlist that fits your audience, date and budget.