Demetrius Brown discovered his love for food at an early age, inspired by his late great-grandmother’s cooking. Demetrius was born into a Trinidadian and Jamaican family and raised in Providence, Rhode Island, and Atlanta, Georgia. While on a trip to Providence as a teenager, he was introduced to one of the premiere culinary schools in the U.S. by his grandfather. During his teenage years when his grandfather introduced him to one of the premier culinary schools in the U.S during a trip to Providence. Despite initial expectations to follow in his family's footsteps in the automotive industry, Brown decided to pursue his passion for cooking, enrolling at Johnson & Wales. After graduation, he returned to Atlanta, carrying with him a burgeoning desire to delve into the exploration of Caribbean and Afro-American cuisine.

Keyatta Mincey is an award-winning bartender, beverage consultant, storyteller, and founder of A Sip of Paradise Garden, an Atlanta nonprofit created to support hospitality professionals through sustainability, wellness, and community. She creates beverage experiences rooted in culture, memory, agriculture, and the African diaspora. Keyatta is one of the architects behind The Atlantan, Atlanta’s official cocktail, a creation that has been formally documented and honored by the Georgia House of Representatives. Her work has been recognized by AJC, Food & Wine magazine, Wine Enthusiast’s Future 40, Tales of the Cocktail, Southern Living, and others. Keyatta brings her signature approach to the bar—using thoughtful ingredients and layered storytelling to explore how what we grow, preserve, and sometimes overlook can become something beautiful.

Atlanta native Justin Dixon brings soul, creativity, and serious flavor to every dish he creates. His culinary journey began at the Art Institute of Atlanta and the legendary Pano’s & Paul’s in 2007. Since then, he’s trained under some of the city’s most respected chefs, like Ian Winslade, Zeb Stevenson, Shaun Doty, and Chris Hall, refining his signature style. At Local Three, The Spence, and Bully Boy, Justin made his mark by crafting inventive menus that keep guests coming back. He’s known for bold flavors, thoughtful ingredients, and meals that feel like a celebration. Off the line, Justin is a politics junkie, Outkast superfan, and unapologetic lover of Coca-Cola.

Executive Chef of one of Eater’s "38 Essential Atlanta Restaurants,” Breaker Breaker, Maximilian Hines was a 2022 Rising Star Chef, and won Atlanta Magazine’s “Best Pop-up 2023” with his pop-up, Stolen Goods. Hines’ personal project, Stolen Goods, hosts pop-up events that feature ‘irreverent’ interpretations of well-known dishes. The project focuses on intersections of world cuisines, with particular attention paid to the impact of the African Diaspora on food cultures. Stolen Goods works to shed light on the stories of Black cooks, past and present, and to create opportunities for Black industry professionals.