I love quotes. When I was younger, I used to carry notebooks around and write down things I’d heard people say that I thought were inspiring.
During the 2024 Chef to Chef Conference in Austin, Sean Brock shared one quote that definitely would have made it into one of my notebooks: “The only worth you’ll ever need can easily come from waking up each day and making an honest effort to contribute to a community you love.”
Those words capture our ethos perfectly.
The buzz coming out of Austin wasn’t just about the incredible sessions, the Chef of the Year Competition, the networking opportunities, or the innovative ideas shared. It’s also about what’s next: Baltimore 2025.
For Austin, we poured all our energy into crafting an agenda that resonated with the needs of club and resort chefs. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. This affirms our commitment to content that informs and inspires.
Baltimore offers many unique opportunities for the 2025 Chef to Chef Conference. The city is home to a number of prestigious clubs with talented and eager chefs, like Richard Jallet of Baltimore Country Club, who have stepped up to collaborate with us so we can offer an experience that dives deep into the regional club scene while also continuing to create content that resonates with the industry.
Our goal for 2025 is clear: to push the envelope on what it means to be a part of the Chef to Chef community. Baltimore 2025 will be more than just a series of sessions; it will be a dynamic space for learning and genuine community engagement. So, please mark your calendars for March 23-25, 2025, and join us in Baltimore.
In an effort to further contribute, I would also like to invite you to be a part of our latest initiative—a comprehensive survey on club kitchen renovations. We are gathering data on renovation practices, which will help us understand and enhance how club kitchens are updated and maintained. Your participation will be instrumental in shaping effective industry strategies. Please take 15 minutes to complete the survey, accessible here.
Our commitment doesn’t end there. PlateCraft 2024 awaits. From Nov. 3-5 at Cullasaja Club (Highlands, N.C.), this highly exclusive and intimate event will offer a unique opportunity to learn from club industry leaders and engage in hands-on workshops. Last year, PlateCraft sold out in five days. Be on the lookout, as we plan to open registration in the next few weeks.
During my performance review this year, my boss told me that he’s never encountered an editor who cares about the industry they cover as much as I do.
So, while Sean Brock’s sentiment would have made it into my notebook, I’d add a footnote: True fulfillment comes not only from contributing to a community we love but also from challenging ourselves to evolve and elevate that community to new heights.
