BACK TO CULINARY MASTERS 2016 >>

Charlie Trotter once described the chef, author, and NPR radio-show host Norman Van Aken as “the Walt Whitman of American Cuisine.” Critically praised for his trailblazing menus, the self-taught chef is recognized worldwide for his unique manner of merging Latin, Caribbean, Asian, African, and American flavors, and he has been on the prestigious James Beard list of Who’s Who in American Food & Beverage since 2003.

Born and raised in Illinois, Van Aken traveled t…