2026 Teams & Judges
St. Pete
TEAM CAPTAIN
Nick Ocando
Tampa
TEAM CAPTAIN
Taro Larrea
Judges
Geoffrey Zakarian and his daughter, Anna
Geoffrey Zakarian, a master of modern American cuisine, has presided over some of the country’s top kitchens in the past 25 years. His two newest concepts, Point Royal and Counter Point, are located inside The Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood, FL.
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He also helms The Garden Bar and Georgie, both located in Los Angeles within Montage Beverly Hills.
Outside of his restaurant ventures, Geoffrey’s cookbook, Town/Country: 150 Recipes for Life Around the Table, was widely acclaimed when released, and his second cookbook, My Perfect Pantry: 150 Easy Recipes from 50 Essential Ingredients, was published by Clarkson Potter in Fall 2014. Geoffrey is also the host of Sirius XM’s Food Talk radio show, which premiered at the 2013 South Beach Wine and Food Festival. He has partnered with Norwegian Cruise Line in a three-restaurant deal aboard its newest, most-luxurious ship, Norwegian Breakaway, set sail in May 2013. Geoffrey also brought these concepts aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Getaway in 2014. In August 2013, he was named culinary director at The Plaza, New York City’s most-iconic hotel. He oversees The Palm Court, The Oak Room & The Oak Bar, The Rose Club, The Champagne Bar and In-Room Dining. Geoffrey is an Iron Chef, having won the title in The Next Iron Chef: Super Chefs in 2011. He is a regular judge on Chopped and has also appeared on The Best Thing I Ever Ate and 24-Hour Restaurant Battle on Food Network. He also is a co-host on The Kitchen.
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Vanessa Marquis
CEC, AAC and Corporate Executive Chef/Franchise Director of Culinary Innovation, FSC Franchise Co.
Chef Vanessa Marquis, CEC, AAC, is the Corporate Executive Chef/Director of Culinary Innovation at FSC Franchise Co.(The Brass Tap, Beef ‘O’ Brady’s, and Newk’s Eatery).
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After starting her career at a Private Country Club in Central California, her growth and experience grew in the galleys to include working on Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, teaching, private classes, consulting, catering for up to 2500 guests, and collaborating with Chef Cliff Barsi in 2013 on Inside the Box Culinary Arts Program for aged-out foster children that is still flourishing at Metropolitan Ministries.
Chef has served the last 9 years on the ACF Tampa Bay Chapter Board and currently holds the position as President. Chef Vanessa has served the last 4 years on Worldchefs International Chefs Day Committee as the Chairman. Another title received this year is the Committee Chair for the Chef & Child Initiative for the American Culinary Federation. The committee’s goal is to reach as many children as possible globally, with the help of Chefs, in “Preparing Children for a Healthy Life.” Her efforts with her husband and fellow Chef, Rene Marquis, are ongoing to the community. The dynamic duo couple received the Humanitarian Medal from World Chefs Without Borders for organizing the first-ever Worldchefs event in the U.S., Americas in Aid-2019. Chef Vanessa says, “Giving & helping is food for my soul.”
In early 2018, she was named to the ACF Culinary Team USA 2020-National Team and competed at the Culinary World Cup 2018 in Luxembourg, receiving a Silver medal in the Individual Category, and a Silver with the team to IKA Culinary Olympics 2020 in Stuttgart, Germany.
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Chef Rene J. Marquis
CEC, CCE, CCA, AAC
Chef Rene J. Marquis was born in Lewiston, Maine. He graduated with an AS from the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), Hyde Park, NY in March 1992. Upon graduation, Chef Marquis worked as a Garde Manger and a Chef Tournant at the Broadmoor Hotel, where he worked until joining the Army in 1993.
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His Army career started at MacDill, and his last stop was also at MacDill AFB. As of January 2014, he is a retired combat-disabled veteran of 21 years. Throughout his military career, he was a team member and captain of (USACAT), Unites States Army Culinary Arts Team, and attended the Culinary Olympics in Erfurt, Germany, in 2000 and 2004. He also competed in Culinary World Cups in 2002 and 2006. In 2004 the team brought home 17 gold and 16 silver medals. He is also an approved American Culinary Federation Judge since 2005 and a Certification Evaluator. In 2012 Chef Marquis helped Café Mom Studios and mothers by starring in the kitchen show “Dinner Boot Camp.” To help prepare healthy, quick dinners for families on the go. In 2013, he appeared on Alton Brown’s latest show on the Food Network Channel, “Cutthroat Kitchen.” Here he dodged much sabotage by other contestants to finish on top as the winner of Season 1, Episode 7. Chef Marquis became an International Culinary Judge through WorldChefs in 2014.
He is also currently the Chairman of the Board for the ACF Tampa Bay Chapter and was the Business Manager for Culinary Team USA 2020, which competed at the World Cup in November 2018 and then at the Olympics in February 2020. After the Olympics, ACF Culinary Team USA returned with a Silver and a Bronze Medal, and the ACF TEAM USA returned with a surplus of $$$ Money and NO DEBT.
Since 2020 he also serves these other organizations in these capacities:
- Military Regional Director of the American Academy of Chefs
- WORLDCHEFS Chairman – Military Committee
- WORLDCHEFS Culinary Competition Committee – Military
- During Covid, the Tampa Bay Chapter led the relationship and the charge with 5 Star Gourmet to get Family Food Boxes giving out 17,280 meals weighing over 172,800 pounds to the Local Tampa Bay Area.
- Chef Marquis currently resides in the Tampa Bay Area and when he is not working or cooking, or serving his community he’s playing or watching hockey, eh!
- Chef Marquis has won numerous awards, such as Chapter Member and Chapter Chef of the year for several chapters. He has also received Presidential Medallions from the ACF and has won the LTG John D. McLaughlin award and the Chairs Medal from the American Academy of Chefs.
Lastly, in November 2022. Chef Marquis will be giving back to his Culinary Profession by judging at the Culinary World Cup in Luxembourg.
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Scott Tavlin
Radio Host 94.9 & Motivational Speaker, Cox Media Tampa
Scott Tavlin is a motivational speaker, award-winning radio host, and purpose-driven storyteller passionate about helping people believe beyond their limits and live with intention.
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He is a current show radio host of Magic 94.9FM! He has spent the past 7 years going from a college kid with a dream to being voted best radio personality in Tampa Bay. He speaks to organizations and schools about the power of belief and going after that “impossible” goal.
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Past Teams
2026
Team Tampa (Winner)
Taro Larrea – The Sapphire – (Captain)
John Capponi – Capponi Culinary
Steven Giboyeaux – The Sapphire
Felicia Lacalle – Quiote Tequilaria
Dimuth Munasingha – Meat Market
Jacob Rios – Next Level Brands
Fernando Sanchez – Noble Crust
Team St. Pete
Nick Ocando – Allelo – (Captain)
Chef Tim Lentsch – Juno and the Peacock
Chef Morgan Figgs – Allelo
Chef Jon Walker – The Tides Market
Chef Cody Wilhite – Brick & Mortar
Chris Chris Astrip – Black Pearl Dunedin
Chef Carlos Martinez – Pluma Lounge
2025
Team St. Pete (Winner)
Team Tampa
2024
Team St. Pete
Kevin Riley, Tampa Bay Rays/Levy Restaurant (Captain)
Mo Hassan, The Hangar Restaurant & Fly Lounge
Eric Mack, Island Grill and Raw Bar Tierra Verde
Jessica Sampman, Sonata Restaurant (Mahaffey Theatre)
Thalia Tatham, House of Vegano
Paul Trollinger, Tampa Bay Rays/Levy Restaurant
Chris Wilhite, Brick & Mortar
Michael Rocco La Porte, Pastry Chef – Birchwood
Team Tampa (Winner)
Taro Larrea, Tablas (Captain)
Sergio Chanquin, Ybor City Sushi House
Daniel Devino, Union New American
Caleb Erb, Tampa Bay Lightning/Delaware North
Joi Falcone, 7th + Grove
Olivia Giesler, The Pearl
Paul Morrison III, Ponte
Stephan Schubert, Pastry Chef – Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino
2023
Judges
Albert Tash, Executive Chef, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino
Michael Moench, Certified Executive Chef, ACF
Vanessa Marquis, Research & Development Chef, FSC Franchise Co.
Steve Phelps, Executive Chef, Indigenous Restaurant
Team St. Pete (winner)
Susan Burdian, Social Roost (Captain)
Jason Gordon, Cap’s Steamer Bar and Grille
Christopher Falzon, Crown and Bull
Mike Malone, Levy Restaurants & Tropicana Field
Matthew Smith, The Hangar
Lee Aquino, Birchwood & Teak
Mike Roberts, Wild Child
Team Tampa
Anne Kearny, Oak & Ola (Captain)
Ricardo Nava, Cru Cellars
Drew Dimitrovski, Oak & Ola
David Puatu, Tampa Bay Lightning
Allie Beasman, edison food+drink lab
Adam Moya, Counter Culture
Phil Cleary, On Swann
2021
Judges
Norman Van Aken
Adrienne Gang, Bravo TV’s Below Deck
Joe Isidori, JOTORO Kitchen + Tequila Bar
Lee Ann Whippen, KCBS Certified Judge, celebrity pitmaster, restaurateur
Team St. Pete
Joshua Breen, Annata Wine Bar (Captian)
Jason Borajkiewicz, The Restorative
Susan Burdain, Social Roast
Burton Pratt, Sauvignon Wine Locker & American Trattoria
Kevin Riley, Levy Restaurants & Tampa Bay Rays
James Renew, The Little Lamb Gastropub
Mike Crippin, The Studio Public House
Team Tampa (winner)
Taro Larrea, Eddie V’s Prime Seafood (Captian)
Sean Brasel, Meat Market
Joe Dodd, King of the Coop
Casey Ryan, Legends & Tampa Bay Buccanneers
Amy Pattison, Mise en Place
Waylon Nelson, Delaware North & Tampa Bay Lightning
Matthew Zappoli, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
2020
Judges
Thaddeus Bullard a.k.a. WWE Superstar Titus O’Neil
Chad Johnson, Haven
Angela and Andrew Duncan, The Duncan Duo
Kim Miller-Boivin, Culinary Director of Welbilt
Helen Freund, Tampa Bay Times, Food and Dining Food Critic
Team St. Pete (winner)
Jason Ruhe, Brick & Mortar (Captain)
Ted Dorsey, The Mill, Chair
Tyson Grant, Parkshore Grill
Ben Hooper, The Dewey
Art Kucherenko, Sola Bistro & Wine Bar
Colin Reinsmith, Sea Worthy Fish + Bar
Rob Reinsmith, Wild Child
Team Tampa
Michael Buttacavoli, Cena (Captain)
James Maita, Sacred Pepper
Frank Anderson, Seminole Hard Rock
Jason Saldutti, Forbici
Taro Larrea, Eddie V’s Prime Seafood
Adam Polisei, Ocean Prime
2019
Judges
Norman Van Aken, Chef and author
James Petrakis, The Ravenous Pig
Julie Petrakis, The Ravenous Pig
Helen Freund, Tampa Bay Times, Food Critic
Hosts
Thaddeus Bullard, a.k.a. WWE Superstar Titus O’Neil
Aaron Jacobson, Newsradio WFLA
Tom “Tkras” Krasniqie, 95.3 WDAE
Jeff Philbin, Master Chef Finalist
Team St. Pete (winner)
Ted Dorsey, The Mill, Chair
Rachel Bennett, The Library, Captain
Jonathan Atanacio, K Club Bistro
Joshua Breen, Alto Mare
Jordan Buendia, Rococo Steak
Hector Garcia, Paul’s Landing
Jason Ruhe, Brick & Mortar
Viet Vo, Sekushi
Team Tampa
Candy DeBartolo, Sacred Pepper, Chair
James Maita, Sacred Pepper, Captain
Paul Boucher, Mise en Place
Hab Hamde, Bern’s
Anne Kearney, Oak & Ola
Taro Larrea, Eddie V’s Prime Seafood
Adam Polisei, Ocean Prime
Adrihel H. Rosario, Oystercatchers
2018
Judges
Cory Bahr
Cindy Hutson
Victoria Jordan Rodriquez
Serena Poon
Laura Reiley
Team St. Pete (winner)
Stephen Schrutt, Chair
Ted Dorsey, The Mill, Captain
Lee Aquino, The Birchwood
Adam Beckett, Locale Market
Rachell Bennett, The Library
David Benstock, Il Ritorno
Chris Fernandez, Red Mesa
Tyson Grant, Parkshore Grill
Lee Jasper, Dr. BBQ
Team Tampa
Jeff Gigante, Chair
Chad Johnson, Haven, Captain
Ferrell Alvarez, Rooster & the Till
Michael Buttacavoli, Cena
Nathan Hardin, Steelbach
Felicia LaCalle, Hemingways
James Maita, Sacred Pepper
Courtney Orwig, Haven
Jason Saldutti, Forbici
2017
Judges
Cory Bahr
Marty Blitz
Mike Calta
Ray “Dr. BBQ” Lampe
Art Smith
Team St. Pete
Matthew Brennan, Paul’s Landing
Luke Decker, The Birchwood
Ted Dorsey, The Mill
Tyson Grant, Parkshore Grill
Rob Reinsmith, Noble Crust
Jason Ruhe, Brick & Mortar
Jeffrey Jew, Stillwaters Tavern
Team Tampa (winner)
Richard Anderson, Oxford Exchange
Michael Buttacavoli, Cena
Chad Johnson, Haven
Antoine Ludcene, Cask
Robert Masson, 717 South
Ryan Mitchell, Fresh Kitchen