Group of cheerful people posing indoors, some sitting, others standing, with drinks in hand. They are in a relaxed, social setting with potted plants in the background.

Who We Are

Rooted in collaboration, creativity, and storytelling, The Lineup brings together food lovers and industry insiders for intimate events that celebrate the chefs shaping the future of food. Whether through our exclusive dinner series, dynamic brand partnerships, or digital content, we connect ambitious talent with the opportunities and recognition they deserve.

What We Do

  • The Dinner Series: Our signature event, where up-and-coming chefs take center stage with thoughtfully curated, multi-course menus in an intimate setting. Each dinner is a singular expression of the chef’s identity and craft.

  • Brand Collaborations: We partner with forward-thinking brands to create immersive food experiences, content, and campaigns that celebrate creativity and expertise.

  • Content & Storytelling: Through video, photography, and editorial features, we bring the stories of emerging chefs to a wider audience, giving food lovers a deeper look into their process, inspiration, and craft.

Work with The Lineup
Whether you're a diner hungry for the next big thing, a brand looking to align with the future of food, or a chef ready to step into the spotlight, The Lineup is where talent meets opportunity. Let’s build something unforgettable together.

Elena Besser and Matt Migliore wearing aprons speaking in a restaurant setting with warm lighting.
  • Outline drawing of a woman's silhouette with a bun hairstyle.

    Elena Besser

    FOUNDER

    The Lineup project from the mind of TV Host and Chef, Elena Besser (Food Network, Breakfast with Besser). Elena has developed recipes for Bon Appetit, Food Network and Food 52, and is currently a culinary contributor to the Today Show. After training at the International Culinary Center, Elena cut her teeth working in one of the top restaurants in the city, Lilia Ristorante. During her time there, she was inspired daily by the work of the talented people who worked alongside her, and always kept the idea in her mind that they deserved a platform as much as anyone else. Her connections to the industry still run deep, and her knowledge and passion for platforming new culinary perspectives is the beating heart of The Lineup project.

  • Silhouette of a person with glasses and beard

    Jackson Cook

    CREATIVE DIRECTOR

    Jackson’s employment history has taken him on parallel tracks in his 13 years in New York City. He has worked as a creative in various forms from design, to producer, to creative director, and even to small business owner with co-collaborator Graham Burns. Additionally, he worked in the hospitality industry in the grueling but rewarding world of food halls, as the General Manager and Project Manager of Urbanspace Vanderbilt and 570 Lexington respectively. He met Elena in 2017, and along with Graham, the three of them have completed many culinary focused projects together, including concepting and selling a show to Food Network, and the first iteration of The Lineup which was cut short by COVID before it could get off the ground.

  • Outline of a man's face wearing glasses with a slight smile, simple line art.

    Graham Burns

    CONTENT DIRECTOR

    Graham has worked as a videographer, producer and director in New York City for the better part of a decade. Under his own company, Coolburns, he produced short films, commercials, and music videos before starting a food focused Instagram account called The Brothers Buoy with collaborator Jackson Cook in 2013. This eventually led he and Jackson to turn that into an agency where the two would take on projects both large and small for brands like Mack Weldon, The National Parks Association, and Visible Mobile. The agency was aquired in 2020, and Graham has since gone on to help establish the creative arm of their parent company, Blue Wheel Media, running operations and leading a team of 6 to produce ad focused content.

  • Black cat sitting on a green and white tiled floor near a patterned sofa and wall hanging.

    Elissa Bonito

    CONTENT MANAGER

    Elissa is an Italian-American actor and content producer from New Jersey who has spent the past eight years helping creatives tell their stories on social media. Raised on sauce and the importance of savoring the moment, she has fallen in love with food content and the talented people who come with it, whether through photo or video, short-form or long-form content.

  • Happy Halloween text with witch on broomstick silhouette and decorative stars

    Ticha Vichitlakakran

    CONTENT MANAGER

    Ticha is a New Jersey based photographer / creative who has been working in the social media industry for the last eight years. She enjoys content creation for both work and play - that married to her passion for food has landed her on the Lineup team! When she is not capturing the moment, you can find her in the kitchen learning a new recipe or hanging with friends.

  • Black silhouette of a dragon swirling around a circular design with sharp edges and intricate details.

    Garrett Weinholtz

    LEAD EDITOR

    Garrett is a New York based editor, and has been working professionally in video for the past ten years.Whether it be with short pieces, ads, compositions, or documentary work - his passion for film comes through. He is inspired by how music and film work together as one to create emotions that one can't do without the other.

  • Minimalist illustration of a bicycle in black and white, showing detailed parts like wheels, frame, and handlebars.

    Ramón Martinez

    PHOTOGRAPHER

    Ramón is a Detroit native, New York based commercial photographer. His work has been featured in editorials, exhibitions, and mentioned in Forbes magazine. If he is not behind the camera, you may find him on his motorcycle, working on some new fermentations in his kitchen, or perfecting his top secret chop-cheese recipe, but most likely on a waitlist for the newest restaurants.

  • Silhouette of a frog in a leaping position, facing right, with visible limbs and a long body.

    Gino Mascardo

    VIDEOGRAPHER

    Gino is a California-bred, New York City-based commercial filmmaker and photographer. He works with brands, agencies, and production houses to create impactful messaging with Fortune 500 companies like Barclays and JetBlue to smaller businesses like Swell and Marine Layer - and of course The Lineup.

  • Eiffel Tower in Paris at sunset with pink and purple sky

    Nick DiLullo

    VIDEOGRAPHER

    Nick is a NYC based director of photography that shoots a mix of commercial, narrative, and documentary work. Nick has shot commercial projects for a number of brands such as Anthropologie, Christian Louboutin, Blue Buffalo, and many more. Working on The Lineup has been an opportunity for him to experience the kitchen as his grandparents did when they emigrated from Italy to work in the kitchen and later co-own a restaurant in Torrington, Connecticut.

  • Black and white line drawing of a person with medium-length hair, smiling.

    Alyssa Carvara

    ILLUSTRATOR

    Alyssa started out with a BFA in illustration from MassArt, but has since grown into a creative producer, photo retoucher, prop stylist, set designer, and art director. She is also a soap maker and builder of larger than life cat furniture.