Publix Chef Stage 2025
Showcasing culinary talent all day at Taste of Marietta!
​
Kids Cooking Contest
Kids Cooking Contest, a fun and interactive event for our youngest aspiring chefs. Join us at 11:00 AM at the Chef Stage to register for a chance to prepare an easy, no-fire dish, show off your creativity, and compete for fun prizes. It’s the perfect way to spark a love of cooking and get kids involved in the culinary excitement of the day. To view the contest come to the chef stage at 11:30.
Chef Raul Thomas (Host)
Owner, Marietta’s Theatre in the Square
Chef Raúl Thomas discovered his culinary identity at a young age, watching his mother cook the typical Puerto Rican dishes he is so passionate about. He is a graduate of the New York School of Food and Hotel Management and over the past 30 years has enjoyed working as a Chef at the Marriott Marquis in New York City, cooking for many celebrities, world leaders, performers and luminaries. His roots in Atlanta stemmed from an invitation to join Georgia State University as an Executive Chef and that was followed by the opening of his own restaurants.
Chef Kevin Ashford
Founder, Catered Cakes
Kevin M. Ashford, Founder and Chief Operations Officer for Catered Cakes, is a huge “foodie” and spends countless hours preparing flavorful meals for family and friends, crafting recipes, developing unique flavor combinations, and creating new product ideas for the business. This passion for food has spurred an array of signature desserts at Catered Cakes that include the award-winning New Orleans Style Bread Pudding with a BourbonRum Sauce, and popular desserts like Tropical Carrot Cake, Key Lime Cake, Red Velvet Cake, and a number of plant-based specialties.
Chef Mike
Zeke's Kitchen & Bar
Chef Mike was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. Chef Mike’s mother was a master chef in Creole and Cajun Cuisine, and this sparked his passion for food at the young age of 14.By watching ,helping and learning alongside his mother he realized he wanted to make a career in Culinary World. Over the years he has collaborated with different Chefs around the US to make savory dishes. Chef Mike is currently the Head Chef over Zeke’s Kitchen and Bar where he specializes in Haitian-American cuisine. Chef Mike recently won an award for Taste of Smyrna for Best Appetizer and Entree.
Guest Chef Rea
Boss Kitchen
Chef Rea is an acclaimed culinary expert based in Atlanta, Georgia, known for her exceptional catering services that have garnered international acclaim. With eight years of experience in the business, she has built a reputation for creating exquisite dishes that delight the senses and elevate special occasions. Her expertise extends beyond catering; she is a familiar face on television, where she shares her culinary skills and insights, inspiring home cooks and food enthusiasts alike. Chef Rea specializes in catering for a variety of events, including elegant weddings, corporate gatherings, and private parties. Each event showcases her creativity, attention to detail, and the ability to customize menus that reflect her clients' personalities and tastes.
Chef Hector Santiago
El Super Pan
A native of Puerto Rico, Chef Hector Santiago, began his culinary career nearly 25 years ago in the San Juan kitchen of his mentor, Chef Giovanna Huyke. Under her advisement, Santiago attended the Culinary Institute of America in New York.
​
What started as a popular weekend popup at Pura Vida, Santiago officially opened El Super Pan at Ponce City Market in 2015, receiving accolades from VOGUE, Travel + Leisure, Eater, The Local Palate, CNN, Thrillist, USA Today, the Travel Channel, Food Network, Zagat, Food & Wine, and many more. In 2018, he opened a second El Super Pan location at The Battery Atlanta. El Super Pan is a classic Latin kitchen highlighting the bold and rich flavors of Cocina Criolla and the Spanish Caribbean, with a beautiful melody of Indigenous food, Spanish and African cuisine. His inventive takes on tropical cocktails lead guests through a vacation in the Caribbean, highlighting rum flavors from both Puerto Rico and Cuba.
Chef Kyler Strom
Hamp & Harry's
From a young age, Kyler has been captivated by the intricacies of flavor. Growing up in the vibrant metro Atlanta area exposed him to a rich tapestry of cuisines, sparking a lifelong passion for culinary exploration. Upon returning to his hometown of Lawrenceville, GA, Kyler seized the opportunity to elevate his culinary journey. It wasn't long before Kyler was crafting his own signature dishes, eventually earning a coveted executive chef position at the age of 25. For five transformative years, Kyler led the culinary charge at a Peachtree City restaurant, pioneering upscale Southern-focused global cuisine. Guided by a commitment to seasonal menus and locally grown produce, he helped establish multiple successful eateries while refining his craft.
Now, at Hamp & Harry’s in Marietta, GA, Kyler continues to push culinary boundaries and ignite taste buds with his unique blend of Southern-inspired global fare. With a dedication to locally sourced ingredients and an unwavering passion for innovation, he invites you to join him on a culinary journey unlike any other.
