By Jeff Hocker

The Palm Springs Food & Wine Festival, the largest international food and wine event of its kind in Southern CA, is proud to welcome a growing list of celebrity chefs to its roster.

“The dates are set and we are ecstatic to announce The Palm Springs Food and Wine Festival is moving to an incredible location, The Downtown Palm Springs Park adjacent to the Palm Springs Art Museum with spectacular views of the St. Jacinto Mountains on November 13-15, 2026.

Each chef has earned an impressive reputation through years of culinary achievement, innovation, and dedication to their craft. Beyond their individual accomplishments, they have established successful culinary enterprises that extend across the country and reach into the international dining scene. Together, their experience, creativity, and influence represent an exceptional level of talent and expertise in today’s culinary world.

The event has come to be known as a hip, cool and innovative event that brings together over 25 chef owned fine dining restaurants and incredible wines like ZD, Turnbull, Evergreen Family Wines and over 100 varietals,” said Festival Executive Producer Jeff Hocker, known for his long expertise in event production and the culinary arts.

Beejhy Barhany

Beejhy Barhany is a cultural and community icon, entrepreneur, and chef. Born in Ethiopia, raised in Israel, and now living in Harlem, she is a passionate advocate for the Jewish community. In 2003, she founded the BINA Cultural Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to celebrating and empowering Ethiopian Jews through arts, education, and cultural programming. Her work with BINA started with cultural showcases in the NYC area, encouraging filmmakers and artists to exhibit their works and promote the cultural heritage of Ethiopian Jews. Food quickly became a cultural staple at these showcases.

The response inspired Beejhy to enter the food business, and in 2014 she opened Tsion Café in Harlem’s historic Sugar Hill neighborhood, where she serves a fusion of Ethiopian, Israeli, and New York inspired flavors. The restaurant has been featured in major outlets including the New York Times, the New Yorker, and the Today Show.

Beyond her work as a chef and restaurateur, she is a frequent speaker and cooking teacher at Jewish and multicultural events. In April 2025, she published her debut cookbook, Gursha: Timeless Recipes for Modern Kitchens, which includes more than 100 recipes alongside personal narratives that celebrate Ethiopian Jewish culture. She currently lives in Harlem with her husband and two children, continuing to build bridges across communities through food, storytelling, and activism.

Dave Martin

Dave Martin is a Top Chef alum, Food Network champ, culinary consultant and creator. His career spans restaurants, television, events and collaborations with major brands across food, travel and lifestyle.

Alongside his longtime event business, Dave has spent the past two years growing his social media presence, bringing his approachable, personality-driven take on food, travel and lifestyle to a fast-growing audience on all platforms.

Based in San Diego, Dave spends plenty of time in Palm Springs and throughout the desert, while continuing to work in NYC and the Hamptons. From private dinners and events to brand collaborations and content, he keeps things delicious, memorable and, most importantly, fun.

Jamie Gwen

Jamie Gwen is a Culinary Institute of America and a Le Cordon Bleu Graduate, a Celebrity Chef & Lifestyle Expert, a Nationally Syndicated Radio Host, a Certified Sommelier and a 7-time Cookbook Author who can be seen stirring up something delicious on television, on the radio and in print from coast-to-coast.  She brings the best to radio with her weekly syndicated radio show, heard every weekend on 100+ radio stations across the country.

Jamie can be seen sharing her passion for food on L.A.’s #1 morning show on KTLA Channel 5, on NBC’s California Live and on the Home Shopping Network, along with other national news shows.  Her culinary talents have led to appearances on the Food Network’s Beat Bobby Flay and Cutthroat Kitchen, Bravo, HGTV, The Talk, Master Chef, Million Dollar Listing, Emeril Live, Martha Stewart and more. 

Jamie‘s charismatic, engaging and interactive keynote speeches draw thousands annually to charity events, symposiums and conferences across the country.  She is the Founder of RELISH Culinary Experiences and revived the Newport Beach Food & Wine Festival in 2025.  As an Influencer, she has tenured relationships with Disney, Dole Packaged Foods, Dometic Home, Bloomingdale’s and more and her Facebook & Instagram posts @ChefJamieGwen are followed by food lovers worldwide.  Feed your soul at www.chefjamie.com

Trilby Tatro

Executive Chef Trilby Tatro grew up in the West Hollywood food scene around Wolfgang Puck, Mark Peele, and Nancy Silverton during her mother’s career as a restaurant and celebrity publicist and a maître d’ of the original Spago. Trilby first discovered her passion cooking plants, but her broad range of culinary skills brought her to the Viceroy Hotel in Palm Springs. 

She was thrilled to be the Executive Chef at the Purple Palm in The Colony Palms, designed by world famous architect Martin Lawrence Ballard where she worked with esteemed chefs Greg Stillman, Brian Keiper, and Jeff Armstrong.  The Arrive Hotel, the first ground up hotel built in Palm Springs in over 30 years, recruited Trilby to oversee the build and development of the restaurant from the ground up including kitchen design, cost analysis, and menu development with the owner, Ezra Callahan (the 6th employee ever with Facebook.)

She spent three years running one of the largest banquet kitchens in the desert, the Waldorf Astoria La Quinta where she executed high-capacity events such as Ted Talks, Marine Balls, weddings for high net-worth individuals, and constant corporate events. During the pandemic The Waldorf became a movie and TV production set, and Chef Tatro executed all of the catering for entire seasons of The Bachelorette and Chopped, as well as, multiple movies including the Olivia Wilde and Harry Styles movie, “Don’t Worry Darling”. Chef Tatro has also been an executive banquet chef at one of the most historic hotels in the US, The Omni Mount Washington in New Hampshire as well as the Omni Rancho Las Palmas.  She has assisted Task Force Kitchen Management for both Hilton and Omni Hotel Group at the Mandalay Beach Resort Ventura. Chef Tatro is excited to bring her experience, and passion to the award-winning Wildest Restaurant.

Daphne Brogdon

Daphne Brogdon is a Food Network personality, standup comic, blogger, wife and mom. She began her career as a radio producer and on-air personality, but her quick wit and improvisational skills quickly led her to host a variety of television shows. But as an improviser and entertainer, Brogdon was looking for a way to perform without leaving her children behind at home.

This sparked the creation of her two websites for moms, which receive millions of unique visitors per month: Coolmom.com, the first comedy mom vlog, and Momversation, which brings top mom bloggers together to discuss issues via video. As the widow of beloved professional chef Mark Peel (Spago, Campanile and La Brea Bakery), Brogdon began helping to cater, test recipes, and manage the business development and marketing for his ventures. Together they will be opening a new eatery in downtown Los Angeles later this year.

Gabriel Woo

Chef and Owner, Woo Hospitality

Born in Guadalajara and raised in Palm Springs, Gabriel Woo chose to stay in the Coachella Valley and make it his mission to raise the bar for the desert-dining scene. “I love it here just because of   how simple life seems to be,” he says. “The pace of everything is what I like.”

Woo started his career at 15, washing dishes at Tamarisk Country Club before climbing the ladder at Stuft Pizza and eventually enrolling in culinary school. Now, he’s the chef-owner of  Woo Hospitality, recognized for creating some of the Coachella Valley’s most celebrated dining experiences, including Bar Cecil and Liv’s, both in Palm Springs. He also oversees food and beverage at O’Donnell Golf Club and is preparing to open Donna Forte, a pizza- and pasta-focused restaurant in downtown Indio.
His proudest professional moment? Having legendary chef Thomas Keller walk into his kitchen and watch him work — twice. “Just that Thomas Keller knows who I am … that’s pretty cool,” Woo says.

Outside the kitchen, he donates to local causes and visits College of  the Desert classes to mentor future chefs. “I want to be known for good food and memorable experiences,” he shares, “and for bringing great restaurants to my community.”

Chef Igor

Before becoming the Executive Chef at Colony Palms and L’Horizon restaurants, while at the New Orleans’ Windsor Court Hotel he was named the winner of Food Network’s television show, Supermarket Stakeout.  With an extensive background in fresh and simple cuisine, Igor takes the culinary and hospitality experience he took the Windsor Court Hotel to new levels. Born in Kiev, Ukraine, he draws much of his inspiration from the time he spent with his grandmother in her kitchen. After graduating from The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, Igor worked in noted restaurants in England and throughout the states before arriving in New Orleans. His dedication to the highest quality ingredients, mastery of flavor and cooking techniques, and enthusiastic personality are apparent in his beautifully crafted menus and mission.

Chef Mitch

Chef Mitch is the heart and soul behind Neighbors Cooking, where food, community, and storytelling come together in every recipe. Born from a love of fresh flavors and an even greater love for sharing them, Chef Mitch believes that each dish is more than just nourishment—it’s a way to bring people together.  On NeighborsCooking.net, he shares mouthwatering recipes, kitchen stories and experiences that celebrate both food and the people who gather around it.  
Every Wednesday he hosts a live show, where local community advocates and leaders cook along, ask questions, and join the conversation in real time. For anyone who misses the live version, episodes are also posted on his YouTube channel so you can catch up anytime.  
Besides being a chef and creator, Chef Mitch offers private chef services and meal prep all with a mission to make delicious, thoughtful food accessible and deeply connected to community.  

Sharone Hakman

Chef Sharone Hakman, originally a financial advisor, launched his well-known food brand Chef Hak’s, after leaving his job to pursue his passion in the culinary world. He successfully appeared on the first season of FOX Network’s MasterChef: a reality cooking show which sought to find America’s most promising amateur chef. He stunned TV’s toughest food critics with his recipes and decided to create his food brand, Chef Hak’s, in order to share his creations with the world.

​Sharone has since hosted and judged several shows on The Food Network, National Geographic, NBC, E! Network and more! Chef Hak’s is a global brand consisting of BBQ sauces, cooking sauces, salad dressings, prepared meals and more. It all started as a dream of Sharone’s, who built the company on a foundation of integrity and transparency, developing a trusted brand available in over 12,000 stores across the United States.

All recipes are carefully crafted, and all ingredients are mindfully sourced with the customer’s healthy lifestyle and convenience in mind. Chef Hak’s is proud to be on the cutting edge of unique flavor profiles, clean ingredients and amazing flavors. Chef Hak’s: Clean Ingredients. Full Flavor. That’s it!

For more information, complete schedule and to purchase tickets to this great event visit www.PalmSpringsFoodandWine.org