Rick McDaniel is a food historian, chef and journalist. He has contributed to the Asheville Citzen-Times and wrote An Irresitible History of Southern Food. McDaniel has served as a judge for the James Beard awards and a consultant to Food Network shows and Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations on the Travel Channel. Julie Stehling is the co-owner of Early Girl Eatery and King Daddy's Chicken and Waffle in Asheville, NC. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Appalachian Sustainable Argriculture Project.