The Team
From left to right, chefs Elizabeth Falkner, Rashida Holmes, founders David Lewis and Chad Hahne, chefs Tiffani Faison, Crista Luedtke, Jon Kung, and Nik Sharma.
Big Queer Food Fest embraces the vibrant intersection of the LGBTQ+ and culinary communities, setting the table for a remarkable food and beverage experience.
By curating a diverse team of talented individuals who are passionate about LGBTQ+ inclusivity and culinary excellence, we at Big Queer Food Fest aim to serve incredible food infused with love, pride, and celebration. With our inclusive approach and commitment to fostering a sense of belonging, we are working to become a prominent player in the LGBTQ+ food space, satisfying the appetites of food enthusiasts from all walks of life.
Join in the fun and become a part of the team! We're always looking to grow our roster of chefs, restaurants, purveyors, beverage makers, sponsors, and more. Email us at hello@bigqueerfoodfest.com
The Founders
David Lewis
david@bigqueerfoodfest.com
David Lewis is an executive producer who works in television and champions the queer and culinary communities. After producing four years of RuPaul’s Drag Race and fashion shows for queer designer Marco Marco, he moved to food programming, including Food Network’s Tournament of Champions, Guy’s Grocery Games, and the twice Emmy-nominated series Ready, Jet, Cook. He has produced some of the most noteworthy names in food television, from Nancy Silveton and Guy Fieri to Rocco Dispirito and Gordon Ramsay, but his passion is working with renowned queer chefs, including Elizabeth Falkner, Tiffani Faison, Traci Des Jardins, and Art Smith. With a commitment to queer talent and inclusivity, David has always been an advocate for LGBTQ+ chefs. His love of highlighting their unique stories has led him to BQFF, a space to recognize and celebrate their impact on the industry and the vibrancy of the LGBTQ+ community.
Chad Hahne
chad@bigqueerfoodfest.com
Chad Hahne is an award-winning queer filmmaker and producer with 20 years of experience producing and directing LGBTQ+ and culinary programming. Among his notable production work is the Academy Award-nominated LGBTQ documentary, How to Survive a Plague, about ACT UP and AIDS activism, and the Emmy Award-winning RuPaul's Drag Race. Additionally, Chad directed and produced Transformistas, a documentary that explores the queer community in Cuba. When not creating LGBTQ+ content, Chad works in television for the Food Network. In this capacity, he produces for talented individuals such as Guy Fieri, Alex Guarnaschelli, Johnny Weir, Tara Lapinski, and Ree Drummond.