Nate Appleman Why he won Because at his two Bay Area restaurants he uses exceptional ingredients—especially house-butchered meat—for his marvelous Italian menus.Born 1979 Raised Greenville, OHEducation The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY.Experience Brasa, Seattle; Ristorante Dulcamara, Florence, Italy; Campton Place, San Francisco.Career turning point “Most of my training had been French. But at Brasa, I discovered a new way of cooking: wood grilling, wood-oven roasting.”Favorite kitchen tool A calculator. “We use whole animals, so if I make sausages, I need to adapt proportions.”Won Best New Chef at: A16 and SPQR, San Francisco, CA About Food & Wine Food & Wine, a Dotdash Meredith Brand, is an award-winning online resource for anyone passionate about the culinary world. With rigorously tested recipes and the most trusted restaurant, drinks, culinary travel and home coverage, we inspire and empower people everywhere to discover, create, and devour the best in food and wine. Learn more about us and our editorial process.