October 23, 2025
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The Tallahassee State College Foundation is thrilled to announce that award-winning chef, author, and television personality Maneet Chauhan will headline the 2026 Cleaver and Cork, presented by Amazon. Now entering its eleventh year, the signature culinary event series continues to bring nationally acclaimed chefs and unforgettable experiences to Florida’s Capital City.
Known for her bold flavors and vibrant personality, Chef Chauhan is a two-time champion of Guy Fieri’s “Tournament of Champions” and a permanent judge on Food Network’s “Chopped.” A 2012 James Beard Foundation Broadcast Media Award recipient, Chauhan is also the founding partner and president of Morph Hospitality Group in Nashville, Tennessee. Her acclaimed restaurants, including Chauhan Ale & Masala House and The Mockingbird, blend global influences with her Indian heritage and Southern flair.
Chef Chauhan’s culinary journey began in Punjab, India, where she worked in some of the country’s finest hotels before studying at the Culinary Institute of America. Her career has taken her from New York City to Chicago and now to Nashville, where she and her husband, Vivek Deora, continue to expand their hospitality ventures, most recently opening eet by Maneet Chauhan at Disney Springs in Orlando. She is also the author of two cookbooks, Flavors of My Worldand Chaat: The Best Recipes from the Kitchens, Markets, and Railways of India, which received the IACP Cookbook Award in 2021.
Chef Chauhan will headline the Signature Dinner on Friday, March 6, the original exclusive dining experience of Cleaver and Cork. The evening will feature a bespoke four-course meal curated by Chef Chauhan, with each course paired with sommelier-selected wines from around the world curated by Hummingbird Wine Bar.
Festivalgoers will also have the chance to see Chef Chauhan in action during the Cleaver and Cork Food & Wine Festival, presented by Peter Boulware Toyota,on Saturday, March 7, where she will host live cooking demonstrations and meet fans throughout the day.
Adding even more star power to the lineup, Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q will headline Sunday’s Brunch & Barbecue on Sunday, March 8. Twin brothers Jonathan and Justin Fox, known for bringing authentic Texas-style barbecue to Atlanta, have built a national following with their smoked brisket, pulled pork, and signature sides. What began as backyard cookouts evolved into a celebrated restaurant brand, named one of the South’s best barbecue joints by Southern Living.
The Fox Bros. will also join Chef Chauhan for on-site cooking demos at the Food & Wine Festival, sharing their signature blend of Texas heat and Southern hospitality.
“Cleaver and Cork has become one of Tallahassee’s most anticipated events,” said Heather Mitchell, Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Executive Director of the TSC Foundation. “We’re honored to welcome Chef Maneet Chauhan and the Fox Bros. for this exciting year and grateful to our sponsors, including Amazon and Peter Boulware Toyota, for helping us continue this incredible tradition of food, fun, and philanthropy.”
Proceeds from Cleaver and Cork benefit student scholarships and programs at Tallahassee State College.
Tickets are available now at https://cleaverandcorktsc.com/.