Guest Chefs at Gather55

Each month, Gather55 welcomes a guest chef to craft a limited-run dinner menu that reflects their story and culinary point of view. Your reservation helps power our daytime community café and Hands On Hartford’s food access programs. Thank you for dining with purpose.

October's Guest Chef

Chef Jamie McDonald

Bear's Smokehouse

Chef Jamie McDonald of Bear's Smokehouse

 
Jamie “The Bear” McDonald knows a thing or two about Bar-B-Que. Born and raised in “The BBQ capital of the world” in Kansas City, Missouri, Jamie spent his high school years working for one of the best barbecue restaurants in the city. Upon graduating from school, Jamie joined the Navy and in his travels across the United States. and abroad, was always on the lookout for great bar-b-que. Much to his dismay, nothing lived up to the barbecue he grew up eating back home. This forced Jamie to rely on the skills he picked up while working in high school. From wood and meat selection to his homemade sauces and rubs, Jamie has near perfected his craft.

Always being told by his friends and family that his barbecue should and could be sold, Jamie decided to take the next step…..with that “Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ” was born. Bear's Smokehouse BBQ now runs four brick and mortar restaurants in Connecticut: Windsor, Hartford, South Windsor, & New Haven as well as 2 additional locations in Asheville, North Carolina. In addition to their restaurants, you can find Bear's at several major venues such as Dunkin Park in Hartford, CT , Gampel Pavilion at the University of Connecticut, the MassMutual Center, The Big E, Westville Music Bowl, and many more! 
 

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Hands On Hartford

Featured Dishes:

Pork Belly Steam Buns

Bao Bun, Smoked Pork Belly, Kimchi, Sweet Chili BBQ Sauce

Smoked and Grilled Tri-Tip

Smoked Tri-Tip, Loaded Smashed Golden Potatoes, Bacon, Scallions, Sour Cream

Peach Cobbler

Sliced Peaches, Vanilla Ice Cream

Make your Reservation Here!

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Chef Jamie

Chef Jamie McDonald

Bear's Smokehouse

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Chef Joe Cusano

Mozz & Co.

Chef Ro

Chef Roshara "Ro" Sanders

Culinary Institute of America

Upcoming Guest Chefs

October 2026

Chef Jamie McDonald

Chef Jamie McDonald from Bear's Smokehouse will be Gather55's October Guest Chef!

November 2026

Chef Christian Wilki

Chef Christian Wilki from Crust Issues will be Gather55's November Guest Chef.

Previous Guest Chefs

For more information on our Guest Chefs and their restaurants, click the + icon

2026

The Laurel (Chef Ashley Flagg)
Chef Ashley Flagg
Carbone's (Chef Vinnie Carbone)
Chef Vinnie Carbone
Mancora Restobar (Chef Omar Soriano)
Chef Omar Soriano
Café Louise (Chef Don Fritz)
Chef Don Fritz
The Culinary Team at Community Table
Community Table Culinary Team
No Mames Mexican Cantina (Chef Ryan Van Grouw)
Chef Ryan Van Grouw
The Gather55 Culinary Team
Gather55 Culinary Team
Culinary Institute of America: Chef Roshara Sanders

Chef Roshara Sanders

Chef Roshara Sanders
Mozz & Co. (Chef Joe Cusano)

Chef Joe Cusano

Chef Joe Cusano
Bear's Smokehouse (Chef Jamie McDonald)

Chef Jamie McDonald

Chef Jamie McDonald

2025

Aroy Thai Garden (Chef Lapat)
Chef Lapat Watrous
Gveenah (Chef Roi Graber)
Chef Roi Graber
Port of Call (Chef Renee Touponce)
Chef Renee Touponce
Shipwright's Daughter (Chef David Standridge)
Chef David Standridge
Whitecrest Eatery (Chef Johan Jensen)
Chef Johan Jensen
29 Markle Ct (Chef Damon Sayer)
Chef Damon Sawyer
Members of the Gather55 Shared Kitchen
Daneka Arroyo, Soulvadorian
Izolde Miranda, Samba Cuisine
Mimi Cheung, Black Sesame Bakery
July 2025 Guest Chefs
Hands On Hartford (Chef Danielle Soto)

Hands On Hartford

Chef Danielle Soto
Grano Arso (Chef Joel Gargano)
Chef Joel Gargano
At the Corner (Chef Carlos Perez)
Chef Carlos Perez
Chef Terry Walters

Author

Nourish: Plant-Based Recipes to Feed Body, Mind, and Soul
Chef Terry Walters

2024

Henry Provisions (Chef Allison Frey)
Sparrow (Chef Adam Greenberg)
Chef Adam Greenberg
Le Mazet (Chef Joe Cusano)
Chef Joe Cusano
Market Restaurant Group (Chef Zach Shuman)
Chef Zach Shuman
Union Kitchen (Chef Tim East)
Chef Tim East
Max Downtown (Chef Chris Sheehan)
Chef Chris Sheehan” width=
The Charles (Chef Tom Kaldy)
Chef Tom Kaldy” width=
Ani's Table and Marketplace (Chef Ani Robaina)
Chef Ani Robaina” width=
Zephyr's Pizza (Chef Dante Cistulli)
Chef Dante Cistulli” width=
Frida (Chef Israel Sanchez)
Chef Israel Sanchez” width=
City Kebab House (Chef Haydar Sharipov)
Chef Haydar Sharipov” width=

2023

Tavern on State (Chef Emily Mingrone)
Chef Emily Mingrone” width=
The Place 2 Be (Chef Xavier Santiago)
Chef Xavier Santiago” width=
Chef Prasad Chirnomula

Prasad Chirnomula

Chef Prasad Chirnomula” width=
The Laurel (Chef Ashley Flagg & Chef Kristen Eddy)
Chef Ashley Flagg and Kristen Eddy” width=
Zohara (Chef Scott Miller & Chef Lou Fiore)
Chef Scott Miller and Lou Fiore” width=
Fire x Forge (Chef Andy Perri)
Chef Andy Perri” width=
Present Company (Chef Jeff Lizotte)
Chef Jeff Lizotte” width=
The Beamhouse (Chef Jesse Powers)
Chef Jesse Powers” width=
Chef Ale Leiva
Millwright's Restaurant (Chef Tyler Anderson)
Chef Tyler Anderson
Gather55 (Chef Rob Maffucci)
Chef Robert Maffucci” width=

2022

Millwright's Restaurant (Chef Tyler Anderson)
Chef Tyler Anderson
Restaurant Bricco (Chef Billy Grant)
Chef Billy Grant

Previous Guest Chefs

2026

January: Chef Ashley Flagg

The Laurel, West Hartford

Chef Ashley Flagg
February: Chef Vinnie Carbone

Carbone’s, West Hartford

Chef Vinnie Carbone
March: Chef Omar Soriano

Mancora Restobar, Hartford

Chef Omar Soriano
April: Chef Don Fritz

Café Louise, Hartford

Chef Don Fritz
May: Chefs Michelle Sosoranga, Dylan Goff, Marco Morerira, and Joann Makovitzky

Community Table, New Preston

Community Table Culinary Team
June: Chef Ryan Van Grouw

No Mames Mexican Cantina

Chef Ryan Van Grouw

2025

January: Chef Lapat

Aroy Thai Garden, Middletown

Chef Lapat Watrous
February: Chef Roi Graber

Gveenah, West Hartford

Chef Roi Graber
March: Chef Renee Touponce

Port of Call, Mystic

Chef Renee Touponce
April: Chef David Standridge

The Shipwright’s Daughter, Mystic

Chef David Standridge
May: Chef Johan Jensen

Whitecrest Eatery, Stonington

Chef Johan Jensen
June: Chef Damon Sayer

29 Markle Ct, Bridgeport

Chef Damon Sawyer
July: Chef Daneka Arroyo, Chef Izolde Miranda, & Chef Mimi Cheung
Daneka Arroyo, Soulvadorian
Izolde Miranda, Samba Cuisine
Mimi Cheung, Black Sesame Bakery
July 2025 Guest Chefs
August: Chef Danielle Soto

Hands On Hartford

Chef Danielle Soto
September: Chef Joel Gargano

Grano Arso, Chester

Chef Joel Gargano
October: Chef Carlos Perez

At The Corner, Litchfield

Chef Carlos Perez
November: Terry Walters

Author

Nourish: Plant-Based Recipes to Feed Body, Mind, and Soul
Chef Terry Walters

2024

January: Chef Allison Frey
Henry Provisions, Haddam
February: Chef Adam Greenberg

Sparrow, West Hartford

Chef Adam Greenberg
March: Chef Joe Cusano

Le Mazet, West Hartford

Chef Joe Cusano
April: Chef Zach Shuman

Market Restaurant Group

Chef Zach Shuman
May: Chef Tim East

Union Kitchen, West Hartford

Chef Tim East
June: Chef Chris Sheehan

Max Downtown, Hartford

Chef Chris Sheehan” width=
July & August: Chef Tom Kaldy

The Charles, Wethersfield

Chef Tom Kaldy” width=
September: Chef Ani Robaina

Ani's Table and Marketplace, Rocky Hill

Chef Ani Robaina” width=
October: Chef Dante Cistulli

Zephyr’s Pizza, West Hartford

Chef Dante Cistulli” width=
November: Chef Israel Sanchez

Frida, West Hartford

Chef Israel Sanchez” width=
December: Chef Haydar Sharipov

City Kebab House, Hartford

Chef Haydar Sharipov” width=

2023

January: Chef Emily Mingrone

Tavern on State, New Haven

Chef Emily Mingrone” width=
February: Chef Xavier Santiago

The Place 2 Be

Chef Xavier Santiago” width=
March: Chef Prasad Chirnomula

Prasad Chirnomula

Chef Prasad Chirnomula” width=
April: Chef Ashley Flagg & Chef Kristen Eddy

The Laurel, West Hartford

Chef Ashley Flagg and Kristen Eddy” width=
May: Chef Scott Miller & Chef Lou Fiore

Zohara, West Hartford

Chef Scott Miller and Lou Fiore” width=
June: Chef Andy Perri

Fire x Forge, Hartford

Chef Andy Perri” width=
July & August: Chef Jeff Lizotte

Present Company, Tariffville

Chef Jeff Lizotte” width=
September: Chef Jesse Powers

The Beamhouse, Glastonbury

Chef Jesse Powers” width=
October: Chef Ale Leiva
November: Chef Tyler Anderson

Millwright's Restaurant, Simsbury

Chef Tyler Anderson
December: Chef Rob Maffucci

Gather55, Hartford

Chef Robert Maffucci” width=

2022

October: Chef Tyler Anderson

Millwright's Restaurant, Simsbury

Chef Tyler Anderson
November: Chef Billy Grant

Restaurant Bricco, West Hartford

Chef Billy Grant