Bill Briwa (1957–2018) was a Professor of Culinary Arts at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) and worked in the hospitality industry as a professional chef and culinary instructor for more than 30 years. He was the resident chef for The Hess Collection Winery in California’s Napa Valley, the executive chef for The Wine Spectator Restaurant at the CIA at Greystone, and an officer on the board of the St. Helena Farmers’ Market. As a member of the Industry Services Group at the CIA, he worked closely with a range of corporate clients to help them realize their culinary goals. Chef Briwa was a speaker, presenter, and judge at numerous professional conferences, gatherings, and competitions in the culinary world. He presented at the annual conference of the International Association of Culinary Professionals and spoke at the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago. His writing on food and wine, olive oil, and cooking was featured in Fine Cooking, Mise en Place, and Sunset, as well as in the trade publications Flavor & the Menu and Practical Winery & Vineyard Journal.

Dr. Connie Guttersen is a nutrition instructor at The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone. A registered dietitian and culinary professional, and a leading expert on the health benefits of diets inspired by international cuisines, she earned her Ph.D. in Nutritional Physiology from Texas Woman's University. Dr. Guttersen is the internationally renowned author of the New York Times best-selling books The Sonoma Diet and The Sonoma Diet Cookbook, which combine the latest nutrition science with a whole-health lifestyle approach that focuses on food to maintain and improve vitality and heart health. A frequently sought-after media personality, Dr. Guttersen has appeared on national broadcast programs such as The TODAY Show, The View, and Fox & Friends, and she has also written on healthy food combinations and the joy of flavorful foods for publications including The New York Times; USA Today; the Los Angeles Times; and O, The Oprah Magazine. Dr. Guttersen has also consulted with a range of corporations and Fortune 500 companies-including Kraft Foods, Nestle, and Panera Bread-on food trends and using world cuisines for culinary inspiration.