Jennifer Carroll is the host chef for Philadelphia's Road to COMMUNE and executive chef of our partner restaurant, Spice Finch. 

Chef Jennifer Carroll’s passion and purpose is making memorable culinary moments both on and off the screen. The Philadelphia-native combines her expertise in French technique from nine years at 3 Michelin starred, Le Bernardin and 10 Arts Bistro under Chef Eric Ripert with the skills learned working alongside Chef Marcus Samuelsson at Red Rooster, where she honed in on elevated comfort food coupled with down-to-earth hospitality. These cumulative experiences tied to her passion for spices and clean eating helped shape the menu for her Philadelphia restaurant, Spice Finch, where she displays her knowledge and appreciation of Mediterranean-inspired dishes. Driven by the spirit of merit and competition she’s embraced on multiple All Star seasons of Bravo’s Top Chef. Carroll channels those standards into creating cool culinary experiences for Carroll Couture Cuisine. With mastery of a diverse range of styles—from light, fresh Mediterranean to classic, luxe European—Carroll personalizes fun, experience-focused meals, classes & demos for both virtual and in-person events. Become a member of the Carroll Crew on Patreon & support her cooking in the digital world. Follow & join her in her home, studio & kitchens during CrowdCast virtual classes, one-on-one hangouts & more. Or shop to support here. Watch her in her recent role as a judge and mentor on Bravo’s Top Chef Amateurs.

Chef artist-activist and social entrepreneur Kurt Evans born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Kurt found a culinary spark cooking southern style dishes, alongside his grandmothers as a child.  Since then, he's went on to hone his skills in some of Philadelphia’s most esteemed kitchens. Kurt has now cooked professionally for over 12 years and continues to learn innovative cooking techniques and creative recipes. He also uses his culinary skills to rally a community around ending mass incarceration. Through the EMI dinner series, Kurt is bringing awareness to and garnering solutions for a pressing community issue. Today Kurt is the Co Founder of Down North Pizza, a fair wage, equitable workplace for all its employees who have been formerly incarcerated.  

Awards & Accolades

• San Pellegrino Champion of Change 2021

An advocate for sustainability Annie Pettry has become a leader in the Southern culinary scene, proudly uplifting staff, supporting local producers, and nurturing diners with her flavorful cuisine. With a nuanced palate, Pettry is known for her vegetable-forward dishes, hand-made pastas, and wood-fired cooking.

Growing up in the mountains of Asheville, N.C., Pettry’s childhood was steeped in influential food experiences including growing vegetables, foraging for mushrooms, trout fishing, and countless hours in the kitchen learning from her parents’ global cooking style. After earning a grand diploma in culinary arts from the International Culinary Center in New York City, she worked alongside acclaimed chefs, in NYC & San Francisco. In 2012 she moved to Louisville, KY to open the renowned restaurant Decca as chef owner for close to a decade before moving back to Asheville, NC, where she currently resides.

Pettry’s work inside the kitchen throughout the years has not gone unnoticed. A 2020 James Beard Award Semifinalist for Best Chef: Southeast, A Top Chef season 14 contestant and two-time Food & Wine “People’s Best New Chef” nominee, she was the 2018 Louisville local all-star chef for James Beard Foundation’s Taste America, one of Restaurant Hospitality’s “15 To Watch in 2015,” a 2014 Star Chefs Rising Star, and the winner of the 2013 Louisville Cochon 555 Heritage BBQ competition. Pettry’s cuisine has been featured by several national food magazines including Food & Wine, SAVEUR, Garden & Gun, EatingWell, Bon Appetit and more. Her restaurant Decca was also given a four-star review by the Courier Journal.

Pettry often steps out of the kitchen to work with charitable organizations related to her passions for sustainability, social justice, food and cooking, including No Kid Hungry, The LEE Initiative, and Change Today Change Tomorrow. She is also active in many of The James Beard Foundation’s programs as a 2020 Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership fellow, 2015 Chefs Boot Camp for Policy and Change alumni, and a leader in the foundation’s national Smart Catch program, which aims to promote responsibly and sustainably sourced seafood.

Awards & Accolades

• 2020 James Beard Award Semifinalist for Best Chef: Southeast
• 2020 James Beard WEL Fellow
• Top Chef season 14 & 16
• two-time Food & Wine “People’s Best New Chef” nominee
• 2018 Louisville local all-star chef for James Beard Foundation’s Taste America 
• Restaurant Hospitality’s “15 To Watch in 2015”
•  2014 Star Chefs Rising Star 
• Winner 2013 Eater Awards Chef of the Year Louisville
• Winner of the 2013 Louisville Cochon 555 Heritage BBQ competition