Francis Lam took over the program from long-time host Lynne Rossetto Kasper in January 2018. A regular contributor and frequent guest host on The Splendid Table since 2010, Lam is the former Eat columnist for The New York Times Magazine and is Editor-in-Chief at Clarkson Potter, a division within Penguin Random House that is a leader in cookbook publishing. For two seasons, Lam was a regular judge on Bravo's hit show, Top Chef Masters. An award-winning writer, Lam has written for numerous publications, including Gourmet, Bon Appetít, Food & Wine, Lucky Peach, Saveur, Salon, Men's Journal, and the Financial Times. He graduated first in his class at the Culinary Institute of America and holds a bachelor's degree in Asian Studies and Creative Writing from the University of Michigan. He lives with his family in New York City.

Dalia has been experimenting in the kitchen since she was tall enough to reach the stove, secretly frying up French toast while her mother napped.

Dalia is a vegetarian, and she has won over countless omnivores with her roasted chickpeas. Dalia has also won some professional honors; her multimedia work has been recognized by the Suncoast Regional Emmys, Florida Associated Press Broadcasters, Telly Awards, Tampa Bay Association of Black Journalists and more. Dalia has served as assistant editor at Cleveland Magazine, entertainment reporter for the Tampa Bay Times, and health and features reporter for WUSF. Her freelance creds include NPR, the New York Times Magazine, AOL, Visit Florida, the Miami Herald, Los Angeles Times and others.

In addition to her work on The Zest, Dalia is also associate producer and co-host of WEDU Arts Plus on Tampa Bay’s PBS television station.

Andrea is the great-great-granddaughter of Casimiro Hernandez Sr., founder of the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City in 1905. Her grandparents were Cesar and Adela Gonzmart, and her parents are Richard & Melanie Gonzmart. Her father, Richard is the President of the Columbia Restaurant Group. Andrea is a member of the fifth generation of the Hernandez-Gonzmart family. She is a 4th generation native Floridian and was born in Tampa.

She began her career at the Columbia Restaurant at the age of 10, by doing filing in the corporate office. By the time she was 12, she was working as a hostess at the Ybor City restaurant and continued working there through high school.

Andrea is a graduate of the Academy of the Holy Names High School in Tampa.

She graduated from the University of South Florida in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science from the College of Business Administration. While she was at USF, she was an active member of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority.

Andrea joined the family business full time after graduating from USF. Upon graduation, she worked at the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City for six weeks of hands-on culinary training in the kitchen; she was the first female to ever work in the Ybor City kitchen.

Anthony Gilbert, (41) better known online as Call Anthony, has garnered a cult-like following with his video reviews of Tampa Bay’s under-the-radar eateries with ten’s of thousands of followers on social media Anthony makes it his business to showcase these great places. That standing-room-only barbecue joint? Anthony says it’s got the best smoked oxtails in town. The $5 chicken wings in the sketchy-looking corner store? There’s a reason why that place is always packed. If you’re feeling uneasy about going inside, Anthony will show you that there’s nothing to worry about.

Anthony was Born and Raised in Tampa Fl. and grew up in the housing projects of East Tampa, most of his reviews highlight food spots in underprivileged neighborhoods. But his fan base is wide-reaching, helping to bring a variety of customers to small, often Family Owned businesses.

Many Florida restaurants have received nods from some pretty prestigious organizations.

At the same time, there’s a whole other culinary scene that’s equally popular—one that, sadly, will likely never be the radar of the prestigious Michelin Guide or James Beard Foundation. We’re talking about food served in convenience stores, gas stations and other mom-and-pop eateries. Maybe you’ve eaten some amazing food in these places. If not, maybe it’s time you give it a try.

Megan Sorby is a founder and CEO of Pine Island Redfish, a regenerative aquaculture company in SW Florida. Growing native redfish for the seafood market and bringing this iconic fish back to the seafood market, they also harness the waste from the fish culture process to grow mangroves for coastal restoration as well as several species of salt tolerant vegetables.

Megan Sorby holds a Master’s degree in Sustainable Aquaculture from the University of Stirling in Scotland, and BSc from the University of Miami Rosenstiel School for Marine and Atmospheric Science in marine biology and chemistry. She has spent nearly 2 decades in the commercial aquaculture space, focusing on new species development, establishing or expanding land based facilities, broodstock management and production planning to market. Megan engaged in roles in across the sector, dealing with facilities from conceptual formation and procedural R&D to full operations in species such as barramundi, sablefish, and yellowtail. She is passionate about connecting consumers with seafood production and the power it has to improve the resilience of our environment and coastal communities.