Thomas Keller

Thomas Keller was named "America's Best Chef" by Time magazine and is the only person to receive consecutive "Best Chef" awards from the James Beard Foundation. The French Laundry Cookbook (Artisan, 1999) won an IACP trifecta: "Cookbook of the Year," "Best First Cookbook," and "Best Photography." Keller has opened a Bouchon at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas and two Bouchon Bakeries--one in Napa and one in New York City, where he has also opened Per Se. Michael Ruhlman is the author of the IACP award-winning best-seller The Soul of a Chef as well as The Making of a Chef.