Doc served as our MC in 2015 and 2016, and here’s what he has to say about returning in 2018. “I love coming to The Chef’s Garden. It truly is a magical place and anyone who has any interest in food beyond mere sustenance loves it, too. It’s like Disneyland, a place where food is respected and well loved, where people grow incredible products, nurturing them and treating them well. And, the people who grow this fabulous food are just as wonderful.” He appreciates the theme of this year’s conference, too: Cultivate. We brainstormed this theme while the 2017 conference was still going on. That’s because, by definition, to cultivate means to prepare and use land for crops and gardening – and it also means to acquire or develop a quality, sentiment or skill. And, from the very start, the primary goal of Roots has been to cultivate positive change by building a platform, a vital place that people can turn to for solutions in the culinary industry. Here’s Doc’s reaction to our theme. “This is perfect,” he said. “At Roots and at The Chef’s Garden, overall, people cultivate ideas connected with food – their food, yes, but also by taking a bigger look at what the world is producing or should be producing. They look at the entire process and the roles that people are playing. The Roots conference doesn’t leave anyone out. It cultivates everyone, all along the food chain.” Doc is also excited that Andrew Zimmern will provide the keynote address. “He is so respected in the gastronomical community and beyond, and I’m excited to hear what he has to say and to share experiences.” Doc calls the Roots conference the “highlight of my year,” noting how much pleasure he gets out of visiting with old friends and making new ones. “I have,” he adds, “the utmost respect for The Chef’s Garden and what it stands for.”
You can find more information about Doc here and here. And you can read his thought-provoking musings on food and life at DocSconz.com. Finally, it’s time to sign up online to be part of the conversation at Roots 2018 where culinary leaders from around the world will gather together to cultivate what truly matters. Chefs, farmers, academics, food scientists, journalists, research and development experts and consumers will push unique and collective endeavors further to the forefront as we discuss the food we cultivate as it is grown and prepared, how we cultivate teams that support us, and how we cultivate the direction and impact of the industry we love. We hope to see you there! And, consider bringing along a friend who has never been to our Roots culinary conference before. Let’s cultivate together!