A native of Nashville, Carla Hall received a degree in accounting from Howard University, but traveling through Europe awakened her passion for food and inspired her to follow a new career path. Carla attended L’Academie de Cuisine in Maryland, where she completed her culinary training, going on to work as a sous chef at the Henley Park Hotel in Washington, D.C. She also served as executive chef at both State Plaza Hotel and The Washington Club, and she has taught classes at CulinAerie and her alma mater L’Academie de Cuisine. Her approach to cooking blends together her classic French training and her Southern upbringing for a twist on traditional favorites.
Justin Chapple is a chef, food writer, and cookbook author. He is the Culinary Director-at-large of FOOD & WINE and is the host of the video series, Mad Genius Tips, for which he was nominated twice for a prestigious James Beard Award. Justin is the author of Just Cook It! (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2018) and Mad Genius Tips (Oxmoore House, November 2016). He has been featured in People, O, The Oprah Magazine, and Real Simple magazines, among others, and appears regularly on NBC’s Today show. Originally from California, Justin moved to New York City in 2003. He’s a graduate of the French Culinary Institute in New York City.