While always pushing himself to look at the restaurant industry in innovative ways, chef, restaurateur, speaker and author Kevin Gillespie’s passion lies in serving quality food every day. After graduating from the Art Institute of Atlanta, Gillespie worked in restaurants in Atlanta and Oregon before opening Gunshow in 2013. In 2015, he opened Revival, a fresh take on the family-style dinner and later opened Communion, an outdoor special events venue. Red Beard Restaurants was established in 2015, allowing Gillespie to ensure smart expansion and provide consulting services to other start-ups. Kevin Gillespie’s Gamechanger opened in 2017 on the 200 concourse western end zone of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium and Ole Reliable, a pop-up restaurant that serves coffee and tea, along with limited breakfast and lunch items at Georgia-Pacific Center in June 2019. His latest concept, Cold Beer, opened along the Atlanta BeltLine in July 2019. Cold Beer offers patio and rooftop views, along with a beverage program from cocktail expert Mercedes O’Brien and menu of shareable dishes. Gillespie was one of three finalists and “fan favorite” on the sixth season of Bravo’s “Top Chef.” He was named a 2015 and 2017 semifinalist and 2016 finalist for the James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef: South award and has previously been a semifinalist for the Rising Star Chef of the Year award for three consecutive years, nominated for Food & Wine’s People’s Best New Chef and named Forbes’ 30 Under 30. Eater included Gunshow in its annual “The National 38” list of places to eat in America in 2015 and 2016. In 2014, Gunshow earned a spot on GQ magazine’s list of “12 Most Outstanding Restaurants” as well as Esquire magazine’s list of “Best New Restaurants of 2014.” Gillespie released Pure Pork Awesomeness in 2015, a follow-up to James Beard Award finalist Fire in My Belly.