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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Upcoming Guest Chefs

October 2026

Chef Jamie McDonald

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

December 2026

Chef Christian Wilki

Chef Christian Wilki from Crust Issues will be Gather55's December 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)
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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)
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Present Company (Chef Jeff Lizotte)
Chef Jeff Lizotte” width=
The Beamhouse (Chef Jesse Powers)
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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