The 2020 Food & Drink ‘It List’: 24 Best-In-Class Chefs and Mixologists Share Their Favorite Spots

Each year, thousands of chefs and bartending pros from across the Americas flex their culinary and mixology skills in the epic, hemisphere-spanning Masters of the Craft epicurean challenge. After weeks of challenges and eliminations, the competition names two winners — one culinary star, and one beverage star.

In 2019, 24 semifinalists rose to the top of their fields, besting over 3,200 competitors from more than 350 hotels spanning the Americas, from Chile to Canada.

They did so not only by whipping up standout dishes and cocktails against the clock, but by doing it “Chopped”-style, on the fly, based on a surprise ingredient, like crab or carrots, which had to be incorporated into the dishes or drinks.

Suffice it to say, these chefs and bartenders know a thing or two about food and drink.

We caught up with all 24 contestants at the competition’s culmination — the annual Masters of the Craft showdown in Washington, D.C., to learn a bit more about their restaurants, bars and the cities where they live and get their inspiration.

The result is this year’s Masters of the Craft “It List,” a guide to what to eat and drink across the Americas, based on these talented craftmasters’ insider insights.