Andrew “Kappy” Kaplan is a trusted culinary, hospitality, foodservice industry, food media and philanthropy professional. A professionally trained chef, Kappy is VP of Culinary Operations for the Rachael Ray brand and is the Co-Founder and Director of Yum-o!, Rachael Ray’s nonprofit organization focused on cooking education and ending childhood hunger in America. He is also the Host and Executive Producer of the Beyond the Plate™ and Clean Plate Club podcasts, and the Founder and CEO of Culinary Advisors LLC, a strategic culinary advisory service.
As Host and Executive Producer of Beyond the Plate, Kappy sits down with the world’s culinary elite to explore their journeys into the industry and the thoughtful and innovative ways that they make a social impact in their communities. A father of twins, himself, he is also the Host and Executive Producer of Clean Plate Club, a podcast for kids and grown-ups that offers an engaging lineup of nutritious and delicious recipes to inspire cooks of all ages. Billed as “storytime…with recipes,” Kappy shares family favorites from chefs and celebrities who cook at home with their kids as part of this popular short-format program.
Prior to working with Rachael Ray, Kappy served as a project manager for the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, overseeing its headline events, including Kidz Kitchen and Burger Bash, while also producing the celebrity chef cooking demonstrations. Kappy has also provided freelance support in production for additional food and wine events in major US markets as well as in China, Italy, Jamaica, and Mexico, such as the annual Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, Colorado and the Chicago Entertaining Showcase.
Kappy is a professionally trained chef, earning his culinary degree from the Culinary Institute of America (CIA); a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management from Florida International University (FIU); and has deepened his background in nonprofit management as an attendee of the Stanford Nonprofit Management Institute.
Committed to community service and furthering culinary and food industry education and research, Kappy serves on the Leadership Council for Share Our Strength and the Chef Corps for World Central Kitchen. He has lectured at the CIA/Harvard Healthy Kitchens, Healthy Lives conference in Napa, CA, and FIU’s Tianjin University of Commerce in China and is a culinary industry expert for the Global Philanthropy Group.
Additional current and past service includes:
Member, Advisory Council for the Urban School Food Alliance
Member, Chicago Public Schools, School Food Advisory Council
Founding external advisory board member for the FIU Institute for Hospitality & Tourism Education & Research
Ambassador to the Social Innovation Summit
1 of 90 North American Voters for The World’s 50 Best Restaurants
Food Systems Advisor, OpenIDEO
