Chef Douglas Katz

A veteran of the Cleveland restaurant scene, Chef Katz started catering out of his parents’ Shaker Heights kitchen in high school. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in hotel and restaurant management from the University of Denver and a degree from the Culinary Institute of America. Before returning to Cleveland, Chef Katz spent time in restaurants in Aspen and Portland, Oregon. He owned and operated fire food and drink in Cleveland’s Shaker Square neighborhood until its closure in 2020. In addition to founding Edgewater Hospitality, Chef Katz is a chef ambassador with the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program. He is also chef partner at Provenance at the Cleveland Museum of Art and with Morrison Healthcare at the Cleveland Clinic.

Todd Thompson

Prior to graduating from Kent State with a degree in English, Todd spent his teenage years working at a winery in Madison, Ohio. That, in combination with working his way through college in various restaurant jobs, led to a career in hospitality. His early roles in management include Pier W and Parker’s Restaurant. The later is where Todd received his real education in food. Parker Bosley’s focus on fresh and local left an indelible impression. From there Todd became the service manager for Bluepoint Restaurant in Cleveland and then worked in hospitality management for InterContinental Hotels. He is a Certified Specialist of Wine and wine continues to be a passion of his.

Chef Cameron Pishnery

After completing a bachelor’s degree at The University of Akron in an academic field, Cameron decided that the field that helped get him through school would become his life’s work—the culinary arts. After short stints in Boston and New Orleans, Cameron returned home to work for Douglas Katz at fire food and drink. Through persistence and passion, Cameron worked through the ranks to become the Executive Chef at Edgewater Hospitality. When not at work, Cameron enjoys spending time with his wife and three kids at their home in Strongsville, Ohio.

Phoebe Connell

Phoebe got her start in kitchens at fire food and drink under Chef Katz. She has a bachelor’s degree in History and Political Science from Loyola University in Maryland and a Masters in Food Studies from New York University. She previously co-owned Lois, a wine bar and small-plates restaurant in New York’s Alphabet City neighborhood, before returning to Cleveland in 2021.