Executive Chef Will Artley
Rusty's Bistro

Chef Artley has over two decades of culinary expertise.  A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Artley has worked in esteemed kitchen’s including City Winery, Atlanta, BLT Steak, and Washington D.C.’s Evening Star Café.  Recognized as one of the Best Chefs in America, he has led restaurants to win prestigious RAMMY awards and competed on the Food Network’s Chopped.  Passionate about fresh, local ingredients, Artley’s menu at Rusty’s Bistro highlights Florida’s Gulf Coast flavors with creative flair, continuing the tradition of culinary excellence that has earned restaurant nine Florida Trend Golden Spoon Awards.

Chef de Cuisine, Shelby Farrell
Oystercatcher's

Shelby Farrell is the Chef de Cuisine of Oystercatcher’s, the iconic Tampa Bay seafood restaurant on property at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay. Previously from Orlando where she served as Chef of the Michelin rated Four Flamingos, Chef Shelby has over 20 years of restaurant experience, specializing in Gulf Coastal seafood and cuisine.

Chef de Cuisine, Susan Burdian
Society Table & Rowe Barl

Chef Susan Burdian leads the culinary vision for Society Table and Rowe Bar at The Don CeSar, bringing with her an acclaimed career defined by creativity, bold flavors, and a commitment to luxury comfort food. A New York City native, Chef Burdian first fell in love with cooking after leaving home for college – driven by a longing for her mother’s homecooked meals and inspired by the cultural richness of the city’s renowned dining scene.

She trained at the Natural Gourmet Institute and sharpened her skills across some of the city’s most vibrant kitchens, including Spice Market, Sfoglia, Maharlika, and Pure Food & Wine. Her early leadership roles include Executive Chef at The Flatiron Room, where she created a whiskey-paired dinner for the James Beard House and cooked for culinary icons like Anthony Bourdain.

 Chef Burdian eventually made her mark on Florida’s culinary landscape, helming award-winning restaurants such as Social Roost in St. Pete and opening Irish-inspired gastropubs in Tampa. She most recently led Team St. Pete to victory at the 2023 Tampa Bay Food Fight, where she also swept the People’s Choice Awards.

At The Don CeSar, her menu blends vibrant coastal ingredients with globally inspired comfort through dishes like Black Grouper over succotash with low-country beurre blanc, Key West shrimp orecchiette, and her signature market salad with ginger vinaigrette highlight her love for seafood, spice, and sauces.

Her guiding kitchen philosophy: “Good food is worth every effort. Do it right. Make it delicious. Make it beautiful.”

Executive Chef Brett Gardiner
Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel

Renaissance Tampa International Plaza is delighted to have Chef Brett Austin Gardiner as Executive Chef and Director of Restaurants since 2011.

Chef Gardiner’s career started at the Kobe Japanese Steak House in his hometown of Honolulu, HI. There he developed his passion for the industry, working his way through his family’s business. He became Sous Chef at Sorrento’s Top of the “I” in Honolulu then relocated to Scottsdale Arizona to attend culinary institute. Following graduation, Gardiner became a Master Cook through the M.G.M. School of Leadership while creating “French cuisine with Pacific flair” for diners at Gatsby’s, the signature gourmet experience at the M.G.M. Grand Hotel Casino in Las Vegas.

Gardiner is locally known for his award-winning restaurant “Hapa” which he owned and operated with his wife Nina Gardiner. Together they created a fine dining restaurant well known for its fusion cuisine and use of the freshest ingredients available. Both accomplished chefs graduated from the Scottsdale Culinary Institute Cordon Bleu, Scottsdale, AZ