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.
Terry Walters
Author of Nourish Plant-Based Recipes to Feed Body Mind Soul • November 2025
Terry is a James Beard Foundation Award finalist, bestselling author, and longtime advocate for healthy, sustainable cooking. Her work has inspired home cooks and food lovers around the world and now, she’s bringing that inspiration to Gather55.
Featured Dishes:
- Sweet Potato Flatbread w/ mushroom, pesto, aged balsamic (VG, GF)
- Collard Greens Sukiyaki w/ Seacoast mushrooms, kombu, broth (VG, GF)
- Almond Pear Cake w/ dark chocolate drizzle (VG, GF)
Recently Featured
Chef Carlos Perez
Chef Carlos Perez is the Executive Chef of @ The Corner in Litchfield.
Originally studying in Manhattan under some of New York’s top chefs, Chef Perez spent the last few years working around CT before finding a home in Litchfield. His approach to cooking can be described as sustainable farm-to-table, paired with a modern influence along with an extensive background in pastry.
Chef Joel Gargano
Chef Joel Gargano, a Connecticut native and son of Italian bakers, began learning the trade in his parents' bakery at a young age with his father.
It didn’t take long for him to discover the gratification from cooking. As a graduate of Johnson and Wales, finishing with a Masters Degree in Culinary Education, the aspiring chef always connected teaching and cooking. While holding positions as an educator, Joel has been cooking professionally for over 20 years.
Chef Gargano has worked in several top kitchens in New England such as Chez Pascal in Providence, RI, Union League Café in New Haven, CT, and Bar Bouchée in Madison, CT. More recently, Chef Joel has worked at LINCOLN Ristorante in New York City, under Chef Jonathan Benno, and spent time at Millwright’s Restaurant and Tavern in Simsbury, CT with James Beard Foundation Semi-Finalist, Chef Tyler Anderson.
Chef Danielle Soto
Danielle earned an Associate’s Degree in Culinary Arts and Restaurant Management in 2012. Her culinary journey has included kitchens in New York and Connecticut, and cooking privately for professional athletes.
But Danielle’s work doesn’t stop in the kitchen. With a Bachelor’s in Social Work and plans to begin her Master’s soon, she recently joined Hands On Hartford's team in July 2024. As a Food Access Coordinator, she launched a Pantry-Inspired Meal series and developed a food access workshop, deepening her commitment to food justice and community empowerment.