The Eater Young Guns Class of 2014 REVEALED

Ladies and gentlemen, Eater is thrilled to present the much-anticipated Eater Young Guns Class of 2014, a group of 16 of the most distinguished young chefs, restaurateurs, sommeliers, and hospitality industry professionals in the country. These are the junior statesmen of the culinary world who have most distinguished themselves this year and who are its next stars. Over the past two months, you've met them and all of the semi-finalists from this year.

The class is comprised of seven women, including New Orleans' own Leighann Smith of Cochon Butcher, and nine men. There are chefs, sous chefs, pastry chefs, food truck operators, one GM, a butcher, a barista, a mixologist, and a pizza chef. They hail from across North America and represent a vast number of cuisines and approaches to their professions. The youngest is just 23 and the oldest is 40, with less than a year of professional experience.

The Eater Young Guns Class of 2014 will be celebrated at a gala event in Los Angeles this evening.

From Eater National's Kat Odell: "Meat mama Leighann Smith learned to cook from her grandmother at age seven and scored her first job in a professional kitchen at age 15. Now, years later, she serves as one of the few female butchers in New Orleans. She's the lady with chops at repeat James Beard nom Donald Link's esteemed Cochon Butcher, the casual meat market attached to slightly more formal sibling Cochon."

· All Young Guns 2014 Coverage [-EN-]