Chef Elizabeth Falkner

Chef Falkner is an award-winning chef, restaurateur, author, and pioneer of modern American cuisine. She created groundbreaking restaurants in San Francisco and New York and continues to work globally in consulting, events, festivals, and destination dining.

Based in Los Angeles, she produced and hosted the documentary Sorry We’re Closed, appears regularly on television, and serves on the Board of Trustees of the James Beard Foundation as Chair of its Awards Committee.

Known for her “Fit to Cook” philosophy, Chef Falkner champions strength, movement, and balance, and leads immersive culinary retreats that blend cooking, culture, and community.

In 2024, she and her partner Heather Freyer co-founded T’MARO Brands Inc., launching three natural spirits crafted with organic California dates.

Chef Ben Ford

Chef Ben Ford is a celebrated chef and restaurateur who has helped shape modern American cuisine. His career began at Chez Panisse, where he developed a deep commitment to organic, sustainable, ingredient-driven cooking, shaped by early family influences and time living abroad.

After returning to Los Angeles, he trained at Opus and Campanile before opening Chadwick, which earned a rare three-and-a-half-star review from the Los Angeles Times. In 2004, he helped introduce the gastropub movement to the West Coast with Ford’s Filling Station in Culver City, now a long-standing Los Angeles institution.

Beyond his restaurants, Chef Ford consults for hospitality brands and leads destination dining experiences, retreats, and travel-based culinary programs worldwide. He is deeply committed to community service, has served as a culinary ambassador for the U.S. Department of State, and has appeared on numerous television programs.

Dru Mouser

Dru Mouser is a wellness entrepreneur, Pilates educator, and creative founder focused on movement, healing, and community. She is Co-Founder and CEO of Village Life Pilates, a Beverly Hills–based studio known for its athletic reformer method, intentional design, and loyal community. Previously, she co-founded House of Core in Brentwood, helping shape its methodology and culture.

With nearly two decades of experience, Dru blends classical Pilates with modernu athletic training and recovery. Practicing Pilates since 2007, she holds multiple certifications including Lagree, Holy Fire Reiki, Yin Massage Yoga, and Integrative Health Coaching, and her teaching is influenced by years of yoga study under Bryan Kest.

Beyond the studio, Dru develops wellness products, leads retreats, and curates experiences that integrate movement, food, and connection. Her philosophy views wellness as relational—built through presence, consistency, and community.