Speakers Style II – Juneteenth Food and Wine Festival

LISTEN TO THE Keynote Speakers

Sammy Davis Jr.

Milk & Honey

Chef Sammy Davis Jr., a Food Network star and past "Chopped: Redemption" winner, is opening an all-day brunch themed restaurant in College Park on July 15.

The new location is called The Real Milk and Honey Café, and will feature comfort dishes curated by chef Davis Jr.

Milked LLC, the company behind the brunch concept, has three other locations throughout Maryland and Washington, DC.

Jamie Gilmore is the chef, owner and restauranteur behind Lizzy J Cafe. “Throughout my culinary career, I’ve worked to develop a unique and elevated take on the southern-inspired cuisine of my childhood. My passion for curating special moments for each guest, daily fuels my creativity. With every meal, I hope to share my love for food and create a space to connect with others. Love is the difference you can taste.”

Carla Hall

Celebrity Chef and Author

Carla Hall

Celebrity Chef and Author

Carla Hall is an American chef, television personality and former model. She appeared in the fifth and eighth seasons of Top Chef, Bravo's cooking competition show. She was a cohost on The Chew, a one-hour talk show centered on food from all angles, which premiered on ABC in September 2011

LISTEN TO THE Event Speakers

Sammy Davis Jr.

Milk & Honey

Sammy Davis Jr.

Milk & Honey

Chef Sammy Davis Jr., a Food Network star and past "Chopped: Redemption" winner, is opening an all-day brunch themed restaurant in College Park on July 15.

The new location is called The Real Milk and Honey Café, and will feature comfort dishes curated by chef Davis Jr.

Milked LLC, the company behind the brunch concept, has three other locations throughout Maryland and Washington, DC.

Christian Bell

Rock Steady, ATL

Christian Bell

Rock Steady, ATL

Executive Chef at Rock Steady Atlanta.

Melisa Rock

Lead Designer, Payol

Melisa Rock

Lead Designer, Payol

World is committed to making participation in the event a harass ment free experience for everyone, regardless of level experience gender, gender identity and expression

Darnell Reed

Luella’s Southern Kitchen

Darnell Reed

Luella’s Southern Kitchen

Darnell Reed born in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up on the South Side spending a great deal of time with his great-grandmother, Luella Funches. Like most kids, Darnell enjoyed playing with friends and watching cartoons, but one of his favorite things to do, even as a very small child, was to watch the Cajun Chef Justin Wilson on Channel 11. The combination of watching him and seeing as well as eating his great-grandmother’s food had Darnell interested in cooking at a young age.

Darnell started his professional career with Hilton Hotels where he started as a prep cook and worked his way up to the Executive Chef of The Conrad Chicago. In 2015, he made the move to open his own restaurant and now four years later, he has opened Luella’s Southern Kitchen, which specializes in Southern cuisine.

Luella's has been in the Michelin Guide as a Bib Gourmand and was also named "Best New Southern Restaurant" by the Chicago Tribune and "Best Soul Food Restaurant" by Chicago Reader.

Jamie Gilmore

Lizzy J Cafe

Jamie Gilmore

Lizzy J Cafe

Rohani Foulkes

Developer Expert

Rohani Foulkes

Developer Expert

Rohani Foulkes, Co-Founder & Co-Owner of Folk, an artisanal café located in Corktown that specializes in seasonal, made-from-scratch comfort foods and healthful beverages.

Chris William

Lucille's

Chris William

Lucille's

Chris Williams was always destined to be a chef; he simply didn’t know it yet. Drawn to study food from a young age, he attended Le Cordon Blue in Austin, Texas and soon began traveling around the world working in eateries in Lithuania, England, the U.S. and all points in between. His insatiable hunger to learn everything about world cuisine unexpectedly led him back to his own family tree. Chef Williams’ named his restaurant after his great-grandmother, Lucille Bishop Smith, who was an educator, culinary innovator and successful entrepreneur. In August 2012, Lucille’s opened in a 1923 Mission-style home on a quiet, tree-lined street in the Museum District. While Chef Williams’ inventive and distinctively southern culinary style means diners will always be delighted by unexpected pairings, often inspired by his travels, Lucille’s legendary chili biscuits will always be on the menu.