Very early in her career, while working at the legendary Stars Restaurant in San Francisco, Caryl Chinn found herself reporting to the restaurant on her birthday. But she didn’t mind as that night was a fundraiser dinner with special guest of honor Julia Child. Chefs Jeremiah Tower, Alice Waters, Jan Birnbaum and Emily Luchetti all joined forces on the tribute menu, and when it came time for the e
vening’s speeches, the pianist started the familiar refrain of Happy Birthday, and the whole restaurant – including Julia! – sang together. From that moment on, Caryl was hooked on the culinary world and the magical moments that can take place over food and wine. After spending 3 years working on public relations and special events for celebrity chef Jeremiah Tower at Stars, Caryl moved to New York to look for new challenges. She accepted a position in special events at Bon Appetit magazine, a Condé Nast Publication, and wound up staying at the publication for 10 years, ultimately as senior special events director. During her tenure with Bon Appétit, she worked on many of their signature events including the Wine & Spirits Focus in multiple cities across the nation, Celebrity Chef Golf Invitational in Scottsdale, and the Celebrity Chef Ski Race in Beaver Creek, Colorado. She was responsible for Chefs’ Night Out – the magazine’s annual see-and-be-seen party the night before the James Beard Foundation Awards and the magazine’s involvement as a founding sponsor of the Naples Winter Wine Festival. Additionally, she oversaw the magazine’s presence at the Cannes Film Festival for three years. A decade later, Caryl was approached by Karlitz & Company about joining the agency to establish a Culinary Division. The group grew quickly, filling a unique niche, and became the leader in special events focused on all things culinary. While there, Caryl worked with the agency’s clients to create several unique special events such as the Foxwoods Food & Wine Festival, the Legends Guest Chef Series at Yankee Stadium, Wine.Dine.Donate with epicurious.com, and more. Undoubtedly, the crowning achievement during her tenure there was collaborating with Festival Founder Lee Schrager on the establishment of the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival – sister event to the wildly successful South Beach Festival. In just 4 years, the Festival became a perennial favorite of NY foodies, and has raised over $3 million dollars for charity. After 16 years in New York City, Caryl returned home to the West Coast, and Caryl Chinn Culinary Consulting was launched. In this new endeavor, she is able to combine her broad experience in special events, marketing, public relations and promotions with her close relationships with celebrity chefs and restaurateurs from around the country. She is on the Advisory Board of C-CAP LA (Careers through Culinary Arts Program), and is on the Culinary Council for the Food Bank For New York City. Caryl graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a BA in History.
