News 15 Game Changers Who Are Reshaping the Way We Eat and Drink in 2023 Meet the people and companies changing the culinary world for the better. By Nina Friend Nina Friend Nina Friend is a New York-based writer who covers food, drink, travel, lifestyle, and sports. Nina’s work has appeared in Vogue, Air Mail, Bon Appétit, Cherry Bombe, Food & Wine, The BBC, and NBC Sports, among others. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines and Melanie Hansche Melanie Hansche Title: Deputy Editor, Food & WineLocation: Easton, PennsylvaniaEducation: Melanie has a graduate diploma in journalism from the University of Technology, Sydney, and a bachelor of arts with a double major in English literature and politics from Macquarie University.Expertise: food, travel, recipes, restaurants.Experience: Melanie Hansche has been the deputy editor at Food & Wine since 2018, where she spearheads both its travel and home coverage, develops recipes close to her heart (crumpets, anyone?), and often writes about her experiences of being a restaurant owner working in food media. Before joining F&W, she was the editor-in-chief of Organic Life at Rodale, oversaw the company's test kitchen, and acted as food director across all its brands. Melanie spent her formative years at one of Australia's most successful food brands, Donna Hay magazine, as its executive editor. Since 2017, Melanie has been the co-owner of Tucker, an Aussie-inspired cafe and general store. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on June 6, 2023 The 2023 Food & Wine Game Changers come from many corners of the culinary landscape. Their ranks include drink-makers, TikTok-ers, chefs, retailers, an artist and urban planner, and even a company turning potato waste into compostable cling wrap. Since we first launched the annual accolade in 2021, we’ve recognized and celebrated culinary innovation at all levels of the supply chain. The worlds of food and drink evolve and improve thanks to leadership within a vast ecosystem that touches tech, travel, and sustainability. The 2023 Food & Wine Game Changers are leaders in their fields, dreaming big, thinking hard, and creating real change. Here we highlight their efforts, their innovation, and their determination in helping us all eat and drink more thoughtfully, more sustainably, and more deliciously.Read on to meet the 2023 Food & Wine Game Changers. Theaster Gates Lucy Hewett The acclaimed artist has created a visionary incubator for aspiring Black and brown culinary professionals in Chicago. Read more. De La Calle Tepache Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Ali Ramee / Prop Styling by Christina Daley Two beverage industry pros are bringing Mexico’s oldest drink to the U.S. market for the first time, with astonishing success. Read more. Katie Jackson Peter Prato Thanks to her Rooted for Good initiative, America’s ninth-largest winery, Jackson Family Wines, has emerged as a leader in sustainability. Read more. Lisa Cheng Smith Meghan Marin At Yun Hai in Brooklyn, retail entrepreneur Lisa Cheng Smith and her team are giving a platform and an identity to Taiwanese products and makers. Read more. Reem Assil Peter Prato The chef is turning her restaurant into an employee-owned co-op, hoping it will serve as a modelfor others. Read more. Great Wrap Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Ali Ramee / Prop Styling by Christina Daley Great Wrap is using the humble potato to help solve the world’s single-use-plastic waste problem. Read more. Meherwan Irani Tim Robison Meherwan Irani has played a pivotal role in reshaping how America sees, eats, and thinks about Indian cuisine. Read more. Maui Nui Venison Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Ali Ramee / Prop Styling by Christina Daley Maui Nui humanely harvests Axis deer, a threat to Hawaii’s native species, and transforms them into venison. Read more. S.A.L.T. Courtesy of S.A.L.T. Silversea Cruises Silversea Cruises offers never-before-seen access to exclusive food experiences, Michelin-starred chefs, restaurants and more through its culinary S.A.L.T. program. Read more. Rockefeller Center Mark Wang Real estate developer Tishman Speyer reinvigorated a New York City icon by building a new community of chefs. Read more. Dia Simms Andrew Thomas Lee Liquor industry executive Dia Simms of Pronghorn is working to diversify the booze business and create more than $2 billion for the Black community in the next 10 years. Read more. Heilala Vanilla Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Ali Ramee / Prop Styling by Christina Daley After two decades of dedication to quality and sustainability, this vanilla company is the first of its kind to be awarded B Corp certification. Read more. Induction Cooking Mark Wang While a simmering debate around induction threatens to boil over in the kitchen, innovation in the space is heating up more than ever. Read more. FryAway Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Ali Ramee / Prop Styling by Christina Daley Fry Away, a plant-based, non-toxic oil solidifier, aims to make disposing of used cooking oil easier for consumers and easier on the environment. Read more. Joanne Lee Molinaro Lucy Hewett Attorney turned TikTok star Joanne Lee Molinaro, aka the Korean Vegan, brings depth and meaning to her lessons on plant-based Korean cooking. Read more. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit