Chicago Chefs Cook unites and empowers Chicagoland chefs to raise funds in support of humanitarian causes that are on the hearts and minds of our city’s culinary community.

Chef Rome is a Chicago-based chef and entrepreneur whose career spans Paris, Cannes, and luxury yachts. He is the founder of Rome’s Joy Companies, a portfolio that includes Peach’s on 47th, Rome’s Joy Catering, and multiple ventures rooted in Chicago’s Bronzeville community.

Maya-Camille Broussard is the chef and owner of Justice of the Pies, a South Side Chicago bakery rooted in food justice. A Bake Squad star and 2022 James Beard finalist, she’s also an award-winning cookbook author and founder of the Broussard Justice Foundation, advancing equity and food access.

Adrian Miller is a two-time James Beard Award-winning culinary author, Certified Speaking Professional, and recovering attorney. He has authored four acclaimed books exploring soul food, barbecue history, and the chefs who shaped presidential cuisine, bringing scholarly rigor, cultural insight, and dynamic storytelling to audiences nationwide.

Matthew Raiford is a sixth-generation farmer at Gilliard Farms in Georgia, rooted in Gullah Geechee traditions. A chef, author of Bress ‘N’ Nyam, and speaker, he blends food, culture, and land stewardship, with over 25 years in hospitality and appearances on Chopped and Beat Bobby Flay.