Art Smith has come a long way from small town Florida to being short listed as White House Chef. Art started out as a personal chef at the Governor's Mansion in Florida where he was raised. In 1997, he ended up as personal chef to Oprah Winfrey for 10 years. With the blessing of the TV icon, Art opened Table 52 in Chicago, and has never looked back. He just opened his THIRD restaurant in Washington, DC and has now published 3 cookbooks “ one of which, "Back to the Table: The Reunion of Food and Family?, won a James Beard Award. Art's mission is to resurrect the important role of food and "gathering at the table.?