It's that time of year again.
Each year, we strive to equip restaurant owners with the resources they need for a successful new year.
What better way to stay on top of things than to follow this list of restaurant experts – the owners, chefs, and writers who are shaping the industry?
2017 saw a paradigm shift for many restaurants. Diners are still eating out, but their preferences have changed in many ways. Everything from the menu items they are demanding, to the ways they want to place orders, are new to many restaurant professionals.
Restaurateurs, in order to stay on top, have been forced to respond – sometimes reactively.
Following this list of restaurant experts will help you stay on top of the industry, and enable you to make proactive, positive decisions for your business.
Making the List of 2018's Leading Food & Restaurant Experts
For the past two years, we've made lists for the Top 30 Experts and Top 35 Experts to follow, respectively. This year, we're upping the ante to include the 50 Best Restaurant and Food Experts to Follow in 2018.
While you'll definitely see some familiar faces, read through the list and see if you can spot who's new this year. I believe their presence on your timeline will be most welcome.
To be included on this list, one must be:
- A chef or restaurant owner.
- A restaurant chain professional.
- A restaurant consultant.
- A trailblazing food or restaurant celeb.
- A dedicated food blogger.
- A reporter or thought leader in the food and/or restaurant industry.
Additionally, these restaurant leaders must have been active on Twitter within the past month and have more than 1,000 followers. Their social reach must be great, and they must post excellent restaurant content about kitchen management, industry news, food, and/or restaurant marketing.
The following is an alphabetical list, by first name, of the most knowledgeable professionals in the restaurant industry.
Open up your Twitter account and be sure to follow these industry professionals for some great day-to-day restaurant insights!
The Top 50 Restaurant Influencers
Aarón Sánchez
Award-Winning Chef, TV Personality, Cookbook Author, and Philanthropist
FOX's MasterChef / Author / Dad / mexiCAN
@AaronSanchez - Website
Adam Goldberg
Editor-in-Chief, Drift and Ambrosia
@alifewortheating on Instagram/Facebook and @lifewortheating on Snapchat.
@LifeWorthEating - Website
Alan Liddle
Data & Event Content Director, Nation's Restaurant News
Data and event content director. At Nation's Restaurant News since 1984. Also, researcher for Supermarket News Top 75. Formerly: daily/weekly news; restaurants.
@AJ_NRN - Website
Allie Tetreault
Food and Restaurant Blogger, Toast
Content Marketing Manager at Toast, Journalist, Blogger, Acapella alto, Wheaton College Grad. Entertainment Buff.
@aktetreault - Website
Allison Aubrey
Food Writer, James Beard Award Winner
NPR Correspondent, PBS NewsHour contributor, mom, aspiring yogi, lavender lover.
@AubreyNPRFood -Website
Andrew Carlson
CEO of Carson Hospitality
On a mission to bring back the customer experience to restaurants in America. Restaurant Speaker. Author. CEO of Carlson Hospitality.
@andrew1110 - Website
Anthony Bourdain
Chef, Author, and Television Personality
Enthusiast@Bourdain - Website
April Bloomfield
Chef
Holds a Michelin star at two restaurants.
@AprilBloomfield - Website
Barbara Castiglia
Executive Editor, Modern Restaurant Management
Executive Editor, Modern Restaurant Management. bcastiglia@modernrestaurantmanagement.com.
@bcastiglia44 - Website
Bradley Toft
The Restaurant Specialist
The Restaurant Guy. Husband, Dad, and a work in progress. Risk Specialist at Newman & Tucker Insurance.@BradleyToft - Website
Bret Thorn
Food Writer, Nation's Restaurant News
Follow the adventures of a New York City food writer. Senior F&B editor, NRN & Restaurant Hospitality.
@FoodWriterDiary - Website
Bruce Irving
Chef and Restaurateur
Founder SPM Marketing: The #1 Digital marketing platform for pizzerias | Speaker | Podcaster | Host of the top rated SPM Podcast : Family First
@Irvingmedia - Website
Cheryl Bachelder
Former CEO, Popeyes® Louisiana Kitchen, Inc.
Former Popeyes CEO focused on developing purpose-driven leaders who evidence competence and character in all aspects of their lives. Author of Dare To Serve.
@CABachelder - Website
Chris Hill
Chef, Bach Kitchen
Leadership and Branding Restaurant Guy - Entrepreneur - Author + 2X TEDx Speaker. (Chris was also a guest on Toast's podcast, The Garnish! Listen here.)
@bachkitchen - Website
Christina Tosi
Chef, Author, Television Personality, and Owner of Momofoku Milk Bar
Hardbody for life.
@ChristinaTosi -Website
Dan Pashman
Host and Creator, The Sporkful Podcast
Creator/host of The Sporkful podcast at Stitcher and the Cooking Channel web series You're Eating It Wrong and The Snackdown. An eater, not a foodie.
@TheSporkful -www.danielboulud.com
Danny Meyer
CEO, Union Square Hospitality Group
CEO Union Square Hospitality Group. Founder Shake Shack. Always Setting the Table.
@dhmeyer - Website
Dave Gonynor
CEO/CO-Founder, That's Biz
Helping restaurants, bars, and chains attract new customers and drive repeat visits.
@thatsbiz - Website
David Henkes
Advisory Group Senior Principal, Technomic Inc.
Global food/beverage industry trendwatcher, consultant, & connoisseur. Senior Principal at . Named 1 of top experts to follow in 2017.
@davidhenkes -Website
David Scott Peters
The Restaurant Expert
I own a coaching company teaching independent restaurant owners how to use systems to be successful and profitable. We offer coaching, workshops and software.
@RestaurantXpert -Website
Devra First
Food Writer, Boston Globe
Boston Globe food writer and restaurant critic. Come for the rabbis, stay for the food.
@devrafirst - Website
Donald Burns
The Restaurant Coach™
The Restaurant Coach™, industry expert at and Toast. Former USAF Pararescue. My motto: All business problems are really people problems in disguise.
@donaldburns -Website
Eric Cacciatore
Host, RestaurantUnstoppable Podcast
Host, RestaurantUnstoppable Podcast. Successful hospitality professionals telling their stories of success and sharing their mentorship.
@EricCacciatore -Website
Gerry Ludwig
Chef, Gordon Food Service
Representing Gordon Food Service through culinary research and development, restaurant trend tracking, food writing and public speaking.
@GFSChefGerry - Website
Gordon Ramsay
Celebrity Chef, Restaurateur, and Television Personality
Check out an awfully British experience in the heart of London York and Albany this festive season.
@GordonRamsay - Website
Graham Elliot
Chef
Chef, Restaurateur, Cookbook Author, TV Personality
@grahamelliot - Website
Heather Lalley
Editor, Restaurant Business Magazine
Editor at Restaurant Business Magazine, new restaurant concepts. Medill + Washburne Culinary grad. Previously at Spokesman Review.
@flourgrrrl - Website
Hudson Riehle
Senior Vice President, National Restaurant Association
National Restaurant Association - SVP, Research & Knowledge Group
@HudsonRiehle - Website
J. Kenji Lopez-Alt
Author and Chief Culinary Advisor, Serious Eats
Stay-at-Home Dad. Author of The Food Lab. Serious Eats (NYC), Wursthall, and Backhaus (both San Mateo). Husband to Adriana. Feminist.
@kenjilopezalt - Website
Jaime Oikle
Owner, RunningRestaurants.com
Owner, Restaurant Report and - Helping Restaurants Succeed and Profit
@JaimeOikle - Website
Jamie Oliver
Celebrity Chef and Restaurateur
The latest from Jamie Oliver HQ.
@jamieoliver - Website
Jean Lee
Restaurant Social Media & Events Consultant
Restaurant PR + Social Media + Events | Food + Drink + Travel | NYC Native
@jeaniusNYC - Website
Jenna Broughton
Freelance Food and Restaurant Writer
Made in Florida. Former American Idol auditionee. Onetime sweepstakes winner. Freelance writer covering impact of tech & policy on food & agriculture.
@JennaBroughton - Website
Jenna Telesca
Editor-in-Chief, Nation's Restaurant News
Editor-in-Chief of Nation's Restaurant News. News tips? jenna.telesca@penton.com
@JennaTelesca - Website
Jim Sullivan
CEO and Founder, Sullivision.com
All about restaurant & retail Leadership Strategy at Author: Multiunit Leadership & The Fundamentals. Speaker, Writer, Omnivore, Dad, Lad, Grad.
@Sullivision - Website
Jonathan Maze
Executive Editor, Restaurant Business Magazine
Executive Editor with Restaurant Business Magazine. Egghead. Married up to Haila Maze. Opinions pre-approved by a blue ribbon panel of experts.
@jonathanmaze - Website
Jonathan Waxman
Restaurateur and Chef
Chef and owner of Barbuto & Jams NYC, Adele's Nashville and Brezza Cucina Atlanta
@chefjwaxman - Website
José Andrés
Author and James Beard Award–Winning Chef
When they go low, we go high...
@chefjoseandres - Website
Julie Jargon
Restaurant Reporter, Wall Street Journal
Wall Street Journal restaurant reporter, mom of three. LA via Chicago via Denver. Hiking, running, West Coast rap.
@juliejargon - Website
Ken Burgin
Founder, Profitable Hospitality
Helping restaurants, cafes, clubs & hotels to be more profitable - marketing, management, cost-control, training, staff. Plus the Profitable Hospitality podcast.
@KenBurgin
Keith Nunes
Executive Editor, Food Business News