under some of the world’ s top chefs, including Thomas Keller and Laurent Manrique.
His first kitchen as Executive Chef was VOX Restaurant & Wine Lounge in Henderson, Nevada. After a year and a half, he returned to wine country and began six years as Executive Chef at Dry Creek Kitchen. In 2015, Chef Valette and his brother Aaron made good on a childhood pact to open their own restaurant, Valette, a fine-casual restaurant that became hugely popular with locals. Valette followed that with a small production wine brand, Valette Wines, made in collaboration with
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THE ART OF APPRECIATION
three notable winemakers. The wines have since developed a cult following.
Valette and a business partner opened The Matheson in 2021 in the original location of his great-grandfather’ s bakery, which is integral to the project. The upscale farm-to-table restaurant is a modern ode to micro-seasonal ingredients working with local farmers, ranchers and artisans. His many honors include Wine Spectator ' s " Award of Excellence” and SARA ' s " Award of Excellence.”''
The 2026 NWWF comes following the record-breaking event in January
2025 at which over $ 34 million was raised. Spanning three days, the Festival will once again showcase dozens of awardwinning chefs and acclaimed vintners who generously donate their time and talents at intimate private dinners throughout Naples, plus an incredible live auction with one-of-a-kind auction lots.
This year’ s theme“ Picture This” reflects the NCEF’ s mission of transforming the lives of children in need. It is a call to imagine and to believe in what is possible when compassion meets action. The theme challenges Festival supporters,