JEFF MAURO - FOOD NETWORK / THE SANDWICH KING
There is no summer ritual that exudes iconic Americana more than the state fair. From corndogs to apple pie bake-offs, this tradition beganback in 1841 where Americans would attend in droves for livestock judging, butter sculpting, and cheese curds. Today, state fairs have evolved to become a hotbed of over-the-top culinary creativity – from chicken fried bacon and red velvet funnel cake to frozen sweet tea and fried lemonade. Jeff Mauro, winner of the seventh season of Food Network Star, graduated from California’s Hollywood Kitchen Academy, and has worked in the food industry since high school in various roles, including line cook, caterer and chef instructor. After pursuing a career as an entertainer and comedian in Los Angeles, Jeff returned to Chicago to spend time doing what he loves: cooking. His down-to-earth personality coupled with his comic skills make a great combination in the kitchen. In his Food Network cooking show, Sandwich King, Jeff proves you can turn any meal into a sandwich and any sandwich into a delicious meal.
PAM STARR - WINEMAKER/OWNER "CROCKER & STARR VINEYARDS"
Pam Starr has been the co-owner, manager and winemaker of Crocker & Starr since its inception in 1997 when she helped resurrect the vineyards on the Crocker Estate in St. Helena and established a winery to create world-class wines. After toiling as a winery employee for 18 years, Pam’s transformation at a relatively young age into owner, manager and winemaker was unique and remarkable. It required a special mix of skill, passion and dedication. All of which describe Pam Starr. Pam’s love affair with winemaking began as a harvest intern for Sonoma Cutrer in Sonoma after graduating from the University of California at Davis in 1984 with a degree in Fermentation Science. Headed down a different path, the daughter of an orthopedic surgeon who was planning to go to dental school quickly switched gears. Attracted by the fast pace, the pleasures of working the land and the wine itself, Pam knew she’d found her calling. “I was simply smitten – the way one is when falling madly in love. Winemaking is mysterious, it’s sexy, it’s magical.” And it’s been her life since. After the internship, Pam worked for Edna Valley Vineyard in San Luis Obispo stacking barrels for a season. Her dream of becoming a winemaker began to take shape. For the next six years she was an enologist and assistant winemaker for Carmenet Winery in Sonoma, a job that taught her how to run a winery from cellar to bottle. In 1991, she became the winemaker for Spottswoode Vineyard & Winery in Napa Valley where she worked until she and Charlie Crocker established Crocker & Starr and she built the foundation of the business. At the same time Crocker & Starr opened its doors, Pam began wine consulting for Adastra Vineyard in the Carneros, Gemstone Vineyard in Yountville and Garric Cellars of Calistoga, among others. Passionate about translating terroir into wine, Pam is known for her distinctive Bordeauxstyle blends that express a deep sense of place. For this enthusiastic and inspired winemaker who views her job as translating soil into wine, great wine must taste of the sun, of the earth it comes from and of the place it grows. Pam is a member of the Napa Valley Vintners, Appellation St. Helena, American Society of Enology and Viticulture, Concierge Alliance Napa Valley and Wine Entre Femme, an international consortium of women winemakers. She is married, lives in Napa and embraces mountain biking, scuba diving, water skiing, sailing, gardening and motorcycling wine roads with her husband. Pam’s dog Griffin, a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, is her loyal vineyard companion.
JOHN O'HURLEY - ACTOR / TV PERSONALITY As national spokesperson for USAGE, John O’Hurley, Seinfeld and Dancing with the Stars actor and TV personality, is one of the 71 million Americans diagnosed with high cholesterol. Behind the camera, his commitment to public health education—including serving as Public Relations Director of the American Red Cross has compelled him to raise awareness of the seriousness of high cholesterol, and the ways patients and doctors can partner to improve effective cholesterol management.
Jennifer Fox - PBS Cinematographer
It’s the 25 Anniversary of POV ( Point of View) on PBS. – opens with the new documentary “My Reincarnation” Which was filmed over 20 years! By acclaimed documentarian Jennifer Fox. My Reincarnation opens POV’s 25th anniversary season on Thursday, June 21, 2012, at 10 p.m. On PBS. (Check local listings.) American television’s longest-running independent documentary series, POV is the winner of a Special Emmy for Excellence in Television Documentary Filmmaking and two IDA awards for Best Continuing Series. Jennifer Fox (Director, Co-producer, Cinematographer) Jennifer Fox is an internationally acclaimed director, producer, camerawoman and educator. Her first film, Beirut: The Last Home Movie won seven international awards, including Best Documentary Film and Best Cinematography at the 1988 Sundance Film Festival and Best Documentary at the 1988 Cinema Du Reel Festival, Paris. She produced, directed and shot the groundbreaking ten-hour PBS/BBC/ARTE series An American Love Story, which received a Gracie Award for Best Television Series and was named “One of the Top Ten Television Series of 1999” by The New York Times, Time Out.