Chefs, Friends & Favorite Moments

Thomas Keller is one of America's most celebrated chefs. Both of his flagship restaurants, The French Laundry in Yountville and Per Se in New York, hold three Michelin stars, the highest rating the Michelin Guide gives. Generations of today's top chefs trained in his kitchens.

Jean-Georges Vongerichten is one of the world's most influential chefs, with restaurants across the globe. In 2022 he opened the Tin Building, a 53,000-square-foot culinary marketplace on the site of the old Fulton Fish Market at New York's Seaport, with a team of chefs from across his group. We are so proud to have been chosen to be a part of The Marketplace at TIN Building.

Eric Ripert's Le Bernardin has held three Michelin stars since 2005 and has been ranked the No. 1 restaurant in the world by La Liste. An Emmy-winning TV host and James Beard Outstanding Chef, he shares his home cooking in his 2023 cookbook, Seafood Simple.

Grant MacPherson has cooked on five continents over more than 40 years, at Raffles Singapore, Four Seasons London, Wynn Resorts and Bellagio, where he launched the Lobster Room. He helped make Las Vegas a culinary destination, and his fourth cookbook, Viva La Lobster, came out in 2025.

Diego Isunza Kahlo is a Mexico City chef known for playful, story-driven menus. He is also the great-great-nephew of the artist Frida Kahlo.

Austrian-born Markus Glocker earned a Michelin star and a James Beard Best New Restaurant award at Bâtard before opening Koloman, his brasserie bringing together the cooking of Vienna and Paris. He celebrated Koloman's second anniversary with Greg Brainin, executive vice president of culinary development for Jean-Georges.

Timothy Hollingsworth spent nearly 12 years at The French Laundry, rising to chef de cuisine, and represented the United States at the 2009 Bocuse d'Or in Lyon. A James Beard Rising Star Chef, he now runs Otium, next to The Broad museum in downtown Los Angeles.

Cédric Vongerichten, son of Jean-Georges, runs Wayan, an Indonesian restaurant with French influences that is listed in the MICHELIN Guide, and Ma·dé next door, inspired by the seafood and vegetables of Bali. He co-owns both with his wife, Ochi.

Drew Nieporent is a legendary New York restaurateur. He co-founded Nobu with Robert De Niro and Nobu Matsuhisa and opened Tribeca Grill, and his restaurants have won multiple James Beard awards.

Farmer Lee Jones, known for his overalls and red bow tie, runs The Chef's Garden, the Ohio family farm that grows specialty vegetables for many of the country's top restaurants.

Dina Mitchell runs PowerSoul Cafe in Las Vegas, known for smoothies, acai bowls and gluten-free fare.

We met Chef Chris when he was at Mercer Kitchen. A customer for years, we were delighted when his Truffle Pizza (drizzled with our white truffle grapeseed oil!) was selected by Gotham Magazine as one of "The 10 BEST Pizza's in NYC". Chef is now at Chez Margaux, Jean-Georges private members club in NYC.

We were delighted to meet Chef Big "G" at Flora Farms in Cabo San Lucas. Imagine our surprise when he told us he already knew our oil from his time with Chef Charlie Trotter in Chicago! We are his biggest fans!

An icon of the food world, we met for the first at a food show in Cabo, delighted to learn he used our oil at Stars in San Francisco!