About The Hosts
Joe Flamm
chef, Culinary Director & Partner, Day Off Group
Joe Flamm is the Culinary Director of Day Off Group, overseeing Chicago restaurant stalwarts Rose Mary and BLVD Steakhouse. Born and raised on Chicago’s Southside, Joe is a veteran of some of the city’s most prominent and Michelin-starred kitchens, and winner of Bravo’s Top Chef season 15.
Joe credits his Grandma Mary for beginning his culinary career–she taught him how to truly cook pastas, ravioli, and pizzas, all made by hand. He received his culinary degree from Le Cordon Bleu and then went on to work alongside some of Chicago's most renowned chefs, including Stephanie Izard at Girl and the Goat, Art Smith at Table Fifty-Two, and Bill Kim at bellyQ. In 2014, Joe joined James Beard Award-winning Chef Tony Mantuano to become Chef de Cuisine at Michelin-starred Spiaggia and Café Spiaggia, eventually becoming Executive Chef in 2015. While at Spiaggia, Joe competed on Top Chef 15 in Colorado, going on to win his season.
After helming the Spiaggia kitchen for 6 years, Joe opened his debut restaurant, Rose Mary, with Day Off Group in Chicago’s Fulton Market District in April 2021. Named for Joe’s grandmothers, Mary and Mary Rose, the restaurant is inspired by his Italian heritage and the bold, bright flavors of Croatian cuisine.
In 2022, Joe became Culinary Director of Day Off Group, taking over the food program at the group’s first restaurant, BLVD Steakhouse, while continuing to oversee all aspects of the Rose Mary kitchen. In December 2024, Joe and Day Off Group debuted il Carciofo, a Roman Italian concept inspired by the restaurants and markets in one of their favorite cities, Rome. The group looks forward to opening a fourth concept in Chicago’s Fulton Market District in summer 2025.
Joe has partnered in a multitude of capacities with numerous companies and brands such as Bed Bath & Beyond, Verizon, Harry & David, Ferrari Trento, San Pellegrino, Bulgari, Cayman Jack, Miller High Life, The National Football League (NFL), Wells Fargo, NBCUniversal, The Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, Toast Inc., Asana, Paylocity, ADP, and more. He has also made countless broadcast appearances, including Top Chef, Top Chef Juniors, Top Chef Amateurs, Beat Bobby Flay, The Dish with Kish, Grudge Match, The Rachael Ray Show, Watch What Happens Live, The Today Show, CBS' The Dish, and more.
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Adrienne Cheatham
chef, author, consultant, and television personality
Adrienne Cheatham is a New York-based chef, author, consultant, and television personality known for her bold perspective on food and culture. A veteran of some of the country’s most acclaimed kitchens, Adrienne served as Executive Sous Chef at Le Bernardin and Executive Chef at Red Rooster Harlem and Corporate Chef of the Marcus Samuelsson Group.
She rose to national prominence as the runner-up on Top Chef Season 15, and has since returned to the show as a guest judge. In 2023, Adrienne published her debut cookbook, Sunday Best, inspired by her critically acclaimed pop-up dinner series of the same name. The book was nominated for a James Beard Award.
Adrienne is a regular judge on the Food Network and contributor to Epicurious, where her videos have earned over 6 million views. She’s been featured in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Bon Appétit, Food & Wine, USA Today, and more—both as a subject and a writer. Through every platform, she shares stories that connect food, identity, and the communities that shape them.