Earlier this year, celebrated chefs Thomas Keller, Daniel Boulud, and Jérôme Bocuse helped lead the U.S. team to its first-ever victory in the prestigious cooking competition Bocuse d’Or. On October 23, they’ll reunite along with rising stars in the culinary world to host 3 days of amazing food and golf at Robb Report’s Culinary Masters at Montage Laguna Beach in Southern California. As the event approaches, we want to introduce you to the chefs who will make this one of the premier dining getaways on the calendar this year. Today, we take a closer look at chef and restaurateur Paul Bartolotta.

An artisan, a two-time James Beard Award winner, and a self-professed free spirit rarely influenced by others, Paul Bartolotta gained an appreciation for good food from his traditional Italian family. Born and raised in Wisconsin, Bartolotta was drawn to the culinary scene at an early age. He worked in a scattering of Milwaukee restaurants before making the transition to New York City, eventually jumping the pond to explore European cuisine for 7 years.