Chef Art Smith, author, and television personality has brought back meaning and symbolism to the word “table” and has united families and friends through the sharing of a meal. The 2002 James Beard Award winner for his first cookbook, Back to the Table: The Reunion of Food and Family (Hyperion, 2001).

Art is also the recipient of the prestigious 2001 Gourmand World Cookbook Award in the category, “For its Human Values.” Art is a National Bestseller and New York Times Bestseller and has been a keynote speaker for Florida Governor Jeb Bush’s “Celebration of Reading,” sponsored by the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy.

A native of Jasper, Florida, Art began his career with two internships at The Greenbrier Resort. He was then selected to attend the prestigious Walt Disney Magic Kingdom College Program in Florida. Following graduation, Art took a position working at the Florida Governor’s Mansion where he worked for Governor Bob Graham, now U.S. senator, and his wife Adele, as executive chef.

Art has run his own restaurant and has cooked for families all over the globe, including politicians and celebrities. After traveling extensively through Europe and Africa as a family chef, Art took a position as chef on the American European Express Train. Once settled in Chicago, he began a career in teaching and has served as personal chef to Oprah Winfrey and Stedman Graham.

Art is a contributing editor to O, the Oprah Magazine and the Food section of Oprah.com. Art's nonprofit organization, Our Common Threads, based on his passionate belief that families (whether a family by blood or a family of friends) all share an innate desire to care for each other, regardless of culture, race or geographic location.

Art’s mission is to foster a familial environment where children learn to value each other and discover universal understanding and mutual acceptance. Art serves on the board of directors of “Kids Café,” a nutrition program, for children in Minneapolis.