Joey Ward

For Atlanta-based chef Joey Ward, this spoon symbolizes a significant transition: it was the first spoon he purchased when he’d risen the ranks from cook to chef. "This spoon marked my decision to invest in myself and my career. It is not the best spoon I've ever had. But you never forget your first." While first feeling clumsy in his hand, he remembers his plating skills developed along with their relationship. "The spoon seemed to evolve to become an extension of myself, and our movements became as fluid as a carefully choreographed dance between two partners."

For his Spoonful, Ward sought to convey that physical and fluid process of his creative cooking style. His composition marries respect for premium ingredients with reverence for beautiful local produce.

Unfortunately, this spoon has been lost since the creation of this Spoonful. "I like to believe that it lives on amidst the halls of Valhalla, with other fallen warriors," Ward says. We tip a glass.