Spike Mendelsohn is a restaurateur, culinary consultant, TV personality, and food policy advocate whose career spans acclaimed restaurants, consumer products, and national food equity initiatives. After training with renowned chefs including Gérard Boyer, Thomas Keller, Sirio Maccioni, and Drew Nieporent, Mendelsohn opened Good Stuff Eatery on Capitol Hill in 2008, earning a devoted following that included the Obama family. Mendelsohn’s portfolio now includes We, The Pizza, Santa Rosa Taqueria, and the plant-forward concept PLNTBurger. He is also co-founder and chief brewmaster of Just Ice Tea®, an organic, fair-trade brand rooted in transparency and ethical sourcing.
A committed advocate for food access, Mendelsohn has worked with organizations such as CARE and DC Central Kitchen, and served as the first chairman of Washington, DC’s Food Policy Council. He also hosts the chef-driven In The Weeds podcast and is a member of CIA’s Board of Trustees.