'CHEF JOCK' LIJOI

The personable chef operates two restaurants -- Tastebuds Cafe in Pigeon Forge and Chef Jock's Roasted Pepper Cafe in Sevierville -- that offer "five-star food with the five-star attitude." He hosts a cooking segment on the news at WATE, Channel 6. He's the author of "Chef Jock's Tastebuds Delights Cook Book." And he has created his own signature spices -- such as sautee dust (granulated onion and garlic) -- that may be ordered from www.chefjocks.com.

Chef Jock is recovering from injuries he received last month in a car crash. Our thoughts, and our appetites, are with him.

Runners-up: David Duncan (Jockey Club) and David Pinckney (The Orangery)