When Michael’s Genuine opened in Miami’s then-nascent Design District, that single word—genuine—became the yardstick for everything the restaurant stood for: “Is that genuine? Does it feel right? Is it authentic? Is it sincere? Is it thoughtful?” Every dish in his restaurants typically starts with one ingredient that triggers a creative process on how to highlight it in the best way possible. It takes restraint, less fussiness, and a really thoughtful…

There are a few things we know for certain about Lisa Donovan: she’s a fierce advocate for women’s rights, she can wax poetic over the nuances of Mexican corn varietals, and she knows how to make a mean buttermilk chess pie. Lisa is one of the top pastry chefs in the South, kneading and baking the night’s best courses at some of Nashvilles hottest restaurants. Lisa also has a deep…

Is there any sweeter sound than the pop of a cork? Kate Payne-Brown would argue no. As winemaker at the award-winning Stoller Family Estate in Oregon’s Dundee Hills—the first winery in the world to receive a LEED Gold certification for sustainability—sparkling and reserve wines are Kate’s forté. As a successful female winemaker in a male-dominated industry and a mom to two young boys. Kate’s also a passionate advocate for creating…

The trip that changed everything for Andrew? Traveling through France's Rhône Valley with his parents, and falling in love with winemaking as a teenager. He quickly left his UC Berkeley paleontology studies behind to pursue a degree in viticulture and enology from UC Davis’ renowned wine program. By his early twenties, he had founded his own eponymous winery in California's Santa Ynez Valley, so similar to the French terroir of…

Anyone who’s met Zach Pollack will tell you he’s obsessed with Italian tradition. And if you’ve eaten at one of his award-winning restaurants in Los Angeles, you know that with obsession comes perfection and a really delicious plate of pasta. That passion and expertise has earned him Los Angeles Magazine’s “Top 10 Best New Restaurants,” a spot on Forbes’ “30 Under 30,”  and a nomination for the James Beard Foundation's…