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Carleigh Connelly

Hospitality Consultant, Chicago

A proud Chicagoan who prefers a chardog with neon relish over a steamed hot dog any day, Carleigh is happy to be back in Chicago after four years at CBS in New York City as the Director of Chowhound, and 6 years in San Francisco as the executive producer for Chef Michael Mina's cooking show, food editor for a B2B culinary magazine, and buyer for Williams-Sonoma. Most recently, she was the head of procurement for chef-driven marketplace and currently leads partnerships for Kate Sullivan's PBS show, To Dine For.

Meet the other judges

Mark Guillaudeu MS

Master Sommelier, 2022 Best USA Sommelier, #6 Best Sommelier of the Americas 2022, #15 Best Sommelier of the World 2023 and Sommelier at Wrigley Mansion, Phoenix

Christian Shaum

Lead Sommelier at Bazaar Meat & Bar Mar Chicago & CMSA Advanced Sommelier, Chicago

Valerie Cao

Director of Operations and Beverage Director at Le Colonial Chicago