KEVIN BELTON
New Orleans School of Cooking
After a long football career that reached the heights of the NFL but included numerous injuries, Kevin Belton looked for a safer and saner way to make a living. Although he had no formal culinary training, his kitchen experience of watching his mother and grandparents prepare meals proved to be invaluable. As a chef, instructor and entertainer, Kevin found his niche. People loved his food; they loved his personality and loved the fact that Kevin left them stuffed.

Kevin Belton is larger than life! Those who have been students and spectators at any of his classes at the legendary New Orleans School of Cooking, know this to be true. Kevin is an over sized guy, with an over sized sense of humor, and an over sized mastery of whoever his audience may be. He is a chef and a stand-up comedian and his audiences love his charisma, humor and methods. Kevin has appeared on local, national and international television promoting Louisiana and New Orleans cooking. He has offered classes and cooking demonstrations throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Some of his television appearances include: “Live with Regis & Kathie Lee,” “Wheel of Fortune” and “Emeril Live.” He has appeared on numerous local programs, as well as having his own cooking show series in the U.K. on BBC television titled “Big Kevin, Little Kevin” with renowned British Chef Kevin Woolford. Additionally, he has appeared on The Food Network’s “Ready, Set, Cook.” Locally and regionally Kevin has appeared on dozens of cooking shows.

MORGAN CLEVENGER
Legacy Tours and Events
Morgan Clevenger had the double good fortune to be born into a family passionate about food and to be raised in New Orleans’ French Quarter. Her immersion and exposure to the diverse history, cultures and food ways of New Orleans as a child has led to a multifaceted career in film, television, music and cultural tourism.

As a location scout and production consultant on numerous films and documentaries, her knowledge and expertise are called upon to authentically portray various aspects of the city and state. As a cultural advocate, Ms. Clevenger is a founder of The New Orleans Jazz Legacy Foundation, whose mission is to preserve, document and advance New Orleans musical and cultural traditions.

Ms. Clevenger is also the founder and owner of Legacy Tours, a custom private tour company dedicated to offering visitors and locals a deeper experience of New Orleans through its cuisine, history, architecture and music. By blending these elements into an entertaining and historically accurate experience, Ms. Clevenger has created events and environments for visiting dignitaries, CEO’s, film industry luminaries and educators.

SUSAN SPICER
Bayona and Herbsaint
Susan Spicer began her cooking career in New Orleans as an apprentice to Chef Daniel Bonnot at the Louis XVI Restaurant in 1979. After four months with Chef Roland Durand at the Hotel Sofitel in Paris in 1982, she returned to New Orleans to open the 60-seat bistro, Savoir Faire, in the St. Charles Hotel as chef de cuisine. She formed a partnership with Regina Keever and in the spring of 1990 opened Bayona in a beautiful, 200-year-old Creole cottage in the French quarter. With solid support from local diners and critics, Bayona soon earned national attention and has been featured in numerous publications such as Food & Wine, Gourmet, Food Arts, Bon Appetit, Travel & Leisure, Restaurant Business and Gault et Millau’s Best of New Orleans. Bayona has been included in the Top 5 Restaurants in New Orleans in Gourmet’s Readers’ Poll for the last three years. From 1997
through 1999, Susan owned and operated Spice, Inc., a specialty food market with take-out food, cooking classes and an artisan bakery. In 2000, Susan and her partners opened Herbsaint, a casual, contemporary, bistro-style restaurant. Susan has been the recipient of the James Beard Award for Best Chef, Southeast Region and the Mondavi Culinary Excellence Award.