Publix Demo

Chefs Kevin Belton & Eleazar Fuerte

Mike's Amazing

September 11th | 7:45 PM – 8:30 PM

https://mikesamazingfoods.com/

Chef Nicola Blaque

Visit San Antonio

September 11th | 8:45 PM – 9:30 PM

https://www.visitsanantonio.com/

Andrew Zimmern

September 12th | 7:45 PM – 8:30 PM

https://andrewzimmern.com/

Kwame Onuwachi

September 12th | 8:45 PM – 9:30 PM

https://www.invesco.com/qqq-etf/en/recipe-for-innovation.html

Chef Fernando Desa

Goya Foods

September 13th | 5:15 PM – 6:00 PM

https://www.goya.com/

Scott Conant

September 13th | 6:15 PM – 7:00 PM

https://www.scottconant.com/

Marcus Samuelsson

September 13th | 7:15 PM – 8:00 PM

https://www.invesco.com/qqq-etf/en/recipe-for-innovation.html

Christan Willis

September 14th | 2:30 PM – 3:15 PM

Kelli Ferrell

September 14th | 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM

https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kookingwithkelli.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cmaya%40teama21.com%7C6b4b5cc2025c42c6afdc08ddeda37896%7C8a2b41f8fd6f45cdb0dabafc3c2f80d3%7C0%7C0%7C638928008575359875%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=l%2F%2FFqDObUy4G9oma9sl%2F1Stes8EdOaHWvGnScasl0sw%3D&reserved=0

Andrew Zimmern

September 12th | 7:45 PM – 8:30 PM

https://andrewzimmern.com/

Kwame Onuwachi

September 12th | 8:45 PM – 9:30 PM

https://www.invesco.com/qqq-etf/en/recipe-for-innovation.html

Scott Conant

September 13th | 6:15 PM – 7:00 PM

https://www.scottconant.com/

Chef Fernando Desa

Goya Foods

September 13th | 5:15 PM – 6:00 PM

https://www.goya.com/

Marcus Samuelsson

September 13th | 7:15 PM – 8:00 PM

https://www.invesco.com/qqq-etf/en/recipe-for-innovation.html

Christan Willis

September 14th | 2:30 PM – 3:15 PM

Kelli Ferrell

September 14th | 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM

https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kookingwithkelli.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cmaya%40teama21.com%7C6b4b5cc2025c42c6afdc08ddeda37896%7C8a2b41f8fd6f45cdb0dabafc3c2f80d3%7C0%7C0%7C638928008575359875%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=l%2F%2FFqDObUy4G9oma9sl%2F1Stes8EdOaHWvGnScasl0sw%3D&reserved=0

Demo Schedule

Step into a series of hands-on, interactive culinary experiences at the Publix Culinary Demonstration Stage, where Southern food traditions are reimagined. Learn approachable, crowd-pleasing recipes, sharpen your kitchen skills, and take home tips you can actually use. Enjoy chances to win prizes and giveaways.

Same Festival. Brand New Location. Our Signature Tasting Tents presented by Goya Foods are now at The Home Depot Backyard!

Learn More About a21

Filter By Day

Chefs Kevin Belton & Eleazar Fuerte

Mike's Amazing

September 11th | 7:45 PM – 8:30 PM

Recipe for Innovation Live, presented by Invesco QQQ

Kevin is a New Orleans native and PBS host, he’s known for celebrating Creole and Southern cuisine with warmth and charm. Joining him is the Corporate Chef for Mike’s Amazing, bringing a bold Latin influence and deep experience in foodservice and product innovation.

Chef Nicola Blaque

Visit San Antonio

September 11th | 8:45 PM – 9:30 PM

Recipe for Innovation Live, presented by Invesco QQQ

A U.S. Army veteran turned restaurateur, she is the founder of The Jerk Shack and Mi Roti in San Antonio, gaining national recognition for her Caribbean-inspired cuisine.

Andrew Zimmern

September 12th | 7:45 PM – 8:30 PM

Recipe for Innovation Live, presented by Invesco QQQ

An Emmy and James Beard Award-winning storyteller, he’s best known for Bizarre Foods and his work highlighting diverse food cultures around the world.

Kwame Onuwachi

September 12th | 8:45 PM – 9:30 PM

Recipe for Innovation Live, presented by Invesco QQQ

Recipe for Innovation is a gastronomic tribute to the innovative companies within the Invesco QQQ ETF, where chefs are inspired to rethink possibility through the universal language of food. Invesco QQQ is bringing this culinary exploration of innovation to life in a live demo with chef Kwame Onwuachi at AFWF, moderated by Investopedia’s Editor-In-Chief Caleb Silver. Celebrated chef Kwame will discuss the dishes he created for his Recipe for Innovation series and the Invesco QQQ companies that inspired them - including a live demo of one of his recipes. Chef Kwame is a James Beard Award-winning chef, restaurateur, and author. His accolades include being named a Food & Wine’s Best New Chef, Esquire Magazine’s 2019 Chef of the Year, a 30 Under 30 honoree by both Zagat and Forbes, and he was recently announced on Time’s 100 Most Influential People of 2025. Raised in New York City, Nigeria, and Louisiana, he creates ground-breaking Afro-Caribbean cuisine inspired by his ancestors and upbringing with intentionality and purpose behind every dish. Invesco QQQ is the Official ETF of Atlanta Food & Wine Festival.

Chef Fernando Desa

Goya Foods

September 13th | 5:15 PM – 6:00 PM

Recipe for Innovation Live, presented by Invesco QQQ

As Executive Chef of Goya Foods, he leads culinary innovation and travels globally to showcase the depth and versatility of Latin cuisine.

Scott Conant

September 13th | 6:15 PM – 7:00 PM

Recipe for Innovation Live, presented by Invesco QQQ

Two-time James Beard Award-winning chef, cookbook author, and TV personality. With a career spanning more than 35 years, Conant brings a deft touch and unwavering passion to creating culinary experiences with thoughtful hospitality and soulful cuisine. His portfolio of acclaimed restaurants includes The Americano in Atlanta, Georgia, and Cellaio at Resorts World Catskills in Monticello, New York. Conant has been a popular presence on Food Network as a recurring judge on Chopped since 2009 and frequent co-host on Beat Bobby Flay. Conant has published four cookbooks to date with the most recent one in 2021, Peace, Love, and Pasta: Simple and Elegant Recipes from a Chef's Home Kitchen.

Marcus Samuelsson

September 13th | 7:15 PM – 8:00 PM

Recipe for Innovation Live, presented by Invesco QQQ

Recipe for Innovation is a gastronomic tribute to the innovative companies within the Invesco QQQ ETF, where chefs are inspired to rethink possibility through the universal language of food. Invesco QQQ is bringing this culinary exploration of innovation to life in a live demo with chef Marcus Samuelsson at AFWF, moderated by Investopedia’s Editor-In-Chief Caleb Silver. Celebrated chef Marcus will discuss the dishes he created for his Recipe for Innovation series and the Invesco QQQ companies that inspired them - including a live demo of one of his recipes. Chef Marcus is the chef behind globally recognized restaurants including Red Rooster Harlem and Overtown, Hav & Mar in Chelsea, Metropolis at the Perelman Performing Arts Center, “Marcus” in Atlanta and New Jersey, and several international concepts in The Bahamas, Canada, and Ethiopia, with his latest venture, Marcus DC, opening in Spring 2025. The youngest chef ever to receive a three-star review from The New York Times, Samuelsson has won eight James Beard Awards, cooked for the Obama Administration’s first state dinner, and earned a 2023 Emmy Award for My Mark. Invesco QQQ is the Official ETF of Atlanta Food & Wine Festival.

Christan Willis

September 14th | 2:30 PM – 3:15 PM

Recipe for Innovation Live, presented by Invesco QQQ

Atlanta-based personal chef and media personality with a passion for cooking globally influenced cuisine. While relatively new to the spotlight, Willis recently was a participating chef for Flavors of Atlanta event held by the American Liver Foundation, appeared on WAGS Atlanta, Food Network Television’s Cooks vs. Cons, featured in JEZEBEL Magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful Atlantans of 2016, and also featured in Brides Magazine. She is also a culinary graduate boasting over 12 years of restaurant hospitality experience, and has been a chef in the Atlanta area for 6 years. Currently, Christan runs her personal chef business with eagerness to teach new flavors and techniques, and has a focused passion for creating memories for others surrounded by food.

Kelli Ferrell

September 14th | 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM

Recipe for Innovation Live, presented by Invesco QQQ

Ferrell is currently a main peach holder on BRAVO’s Real Housewives of Atlanta. Created in 2008, the highly rated show focuses on the personal and professional lives of several women residing in and around Atlanta, Georgia. Ferrell’s restaurant, Nana’s Chicken & Waffles, has grown in popularity from their vast assortment of waffles including: red velvet, lemon, cinnamon roll, banana foster, strawberry shortcake, peach cobbler, banana pudding and more. The restaurant has two Metro-Atlanta locations: McDonough and Sandy Springs. The self-proclaimed “Queen of Waffles” has made appearances on Good Morning America, Live with Kelly and Mark, Hallmark Channel and OWN Network. Ferrell has also appeared on Food Network's Ultimate Thanksgiving Challenge and Guy's Grocery Games.

Chefs Kevin Belton & Eleazar Fuerte

Mike's Amazing

September 11th | 7:45 PM – 8:30 PM

Kevin is a New Orleans native and PBS host, he’s known for celebrating Creole and Southern cuisine with warmth and charm. Joining him is the Corporate Chef for Mike’s Amazing, bringing a bold Latin influence and deep experience in foodservice and product innovation.

Chef Nicola Blaque

Visit San Antonio

September 11th | 8:45 PM – 9:30 PM

A U.S. Army veteran turned restaurateur, she is the founder of The Jerk Shack and Mi Roti in San Antonio, gaining national recognition for her Caribbean-inspired cuisine.

Andrew Zimmern

September 12th | 7:45 PM – 8:30 PM

An Emmy and James Beard Award-winning storyteller, he’s best known for Bizarre Foods and his work highlighting diverse food cultures around the world.

Kwame Onuwachi

September 12th | 8:45 PM – 9:30 PM

Recipe for Innovation is a gastronomic tribute to the innovative companies within the Invesco QQQ ETF, where chefs are inspired to rethink possibility through the universal language of food. Invesco QQQ is bringing this culinary exploration of innovation to life in a live demo with chef Kwame Onwuachi at AFWF, moderated by Investopedia’s Editor-In-Chief Caleb Silver. Celebrated chef Kwame will discuss the dishes he created for his Recipe for Innovation series and the Invesco QQQ companies that inspired them - including a live demo of one of his recipes. Chef Kwame is a James Beard Award-winning chef, restaurateur, and author. His accolades include being named a Food & Wine’s Best New Chef, Esquire Magazine’s 2019 Chef of the Year, a 30 Under 30 honoree by both Zagat and Forbes, and he was recently announced on Time’s 100 Most Influential People of 2025. Raised in New York City, Nigeria, and Louisiana, he creates ground-breaking Afro-Caribbean cuisine inspired by his ancestors and upbringing with intentionality and purpose behind every dish. Invesco QQQ is the Official ETF of Atlanta Food & Wine Festival.

Scott Conant

September 13th | 6:15 PM – 7:00 PM

Two-time James Beard Award-winning chef, cookbook author, and TV personality. With a career spanning more than 35 years, Conant brings a deft touch and unwavering passion to creating culinary experiences with thoughtful hospitality and soulful cuisine. His portfolio of acclaimed restaurants includes The Americano in Atlanta, Georgia, and Cellaio at Resorts World Catskills in Monticello, New York. Conant has been a popular presence on Food Network as a recurring judge on Chopped since 2009 and frequent co-host on Beat Bobby Flay. Conant has published four cookbooks to date with the most recent one in 2021, Peace, Love, and Pasta: Simple and Elegant Recipes from a Chef's Home Kitchen.

Chef Fernando Desa

Goya Foods

September 13th | 5:15 PM – 6:00 PM

As Executive Chef of Goya Foods, he leads culinary innovation and travels globally to showcase the depth and versatility of Latin cuisine.

Marcus Samuelsson

September 13th | 7:15 PM – 8:00 PM

Recipe for Innovation is a gastronomic tribute to the innovative companies within the Invesco QQQ ETF, where chefs are inspired to rethink possibility through the universal language of food. Invesco QQQ is bringing this culinary exploration of innovation to life in a live demo with chef Marcus Samuelsson at AFWF, moderated by Investopedia’s Editor-In-Chief Caleb Silver. Celebrated chef Marcus will discuss the dishes he created for his Recipe for Innovation series and the Invesco QQQ companies that inspired them - including a live demo of one of his recipes. Chef Marcus is the chef behind globally recognized restaurants including Red Rooster Harlem and Overtown, Hav & Mar in Chelsea, Metropolis at the Perelman Performing Arts Center, “Marcus” in Atlanta and New Jersey, and several international concepts in The Bahamas, Canada, and Ethiopia, with his latest venture, Marcus DC, opening in Spring 2025. The youngest chef ever to receive a three-star review from The New York Times, Samuelsson has won eight James Beard Awards, cooked for the Obama Administration’s first state dinner, and earned a 2023 Emmy Award for My Mark. Invesco QQQ is the Official ETF of Atlanta Food & Wine Festival.

Christan Willis

September 14th | 2:30 PM – 3:15 PM

Atlanta-based personal chef and media personality with a passion for cooking globally influenced cuisine. While relatively new to the spotlight, Willis recently was a participating chef for Flavors of Atlanta event held by the American Liver Foundation, appeared on WAGS Atlanta, Food Network Television’s Cooks vs. Cons, featured in JEZEBEL Magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful Atlantans of 2016, and also featured in Brides Magazine. She is also a culinary graduate boasting over 12 years of restaurant hospitality experience, and has been a chef in the Atlanta area for 6 years. Currently, Christan runs her personal chef business with eagerness to teach new flavors and techniques, and has a focused passion for creating memories for others surrounded by food.

Kelli Ferrell

September 14th | 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM

Ferrell is currently a main peach holder on BRAVO’s Real Housewives of Atlanta. Created in 2008, the highly rated show focuses on the personal and professional lives of several women residing in and around Atlanta, Georgia. Ferrell’s restaurant, Nana’s Chicken & Waffles, has grown in popularity from their vast assortment of waffles including: red velvet, lemon, cinnamon roll, banana foster, strawberry shortcake, peach cobbler, banana pudding and more. The restaurant has two Metro-Atlanta locations: McDonough and Sandy Springs. The self-proclaimed “Queen of Waffles” has made appearances on Good Morning America, Live with Kelly and Mark, Hallmark Channel and OWN Network. Ferrell has also appeared on Food Network's Ultimate Thanksgiving Challenge and Guy's Grocery Games.

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2025 TALENT

The chefs and culinary talent of 2025 bring the spirit of the festival to life—one bite, one pour, one unforgettable moment at a time. From rising stars to beloved icons, this year’s lineup is filled with creative energy and bold flavors that will keep you moving through every tasting experience.

Explore the full lineup below and get ready to taste what’s next.

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