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Trust AAE Speakers Bureau for Booking Top Professional Speakers. Find a Keynote Speaker Today.
Paul Virant

Paul Virant

Keynote Speaker: Executive Chef and Owner of Vie, Author & Canning Expert

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    Virtual Event Fee: $10,000 - $20,000
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Paul Virant Biography

Since opening Vie, his flagship restaurant in Western Springs, Illinois, in 2004, Chef Paul Virant has risen to nationwide acclaim for his contemporary Midwestern cuisine that emphasizes canned and preserved ingredients. His philosophy of local, seasonal eating stems from techniques he learned on his family’s farm in Missouri.

In 2012, Virant released The Preservation Kitchen: The Craft of Making and Cooking with Pickles, Preserves, and Aigre-Doux, the first canning manual and cookbook authored by a critically acclaimed chef that creatively combines the technical aspects of canning with a chef’s expertise on flavor.

Virant opened Vistro in Hinsdale, Illinois, in 2014. Vistro focuses on approachable, seasonal food and drinks, and serves as a staple in the community for friends and families. Virant is the former partner and executive chef of Boka Restaurant Group’s Perennial Virant (2011 to 2016) in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood.

Most recently, in 2017, Virant launched Jar Sessions, a locally produced, small-batch line of pickled and preserved products, collaborating with Midwest farmers to create the Jar Sessions collection of farm-to-fork products.

Virant’s accolades include 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2011 finalist nominations for the James Beard Foundation Award’s Best Chef: Great Lakes; 2007 Best New Chef by Food & Wine; 2007 Jean Banchet Award for Culinary Excellence as Top Celebrity Chef; and 2005 Best New Chef by Chicago magazine. He also has competed on Food Network’s Iron Chef America. Vie earned a Michelin star in 2011.

Virant graduated with a degree in nutrition from West Virginia Wesleyan College and then attended The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. Following culinary school, he joined March in New York, where he further refined his skills under the tutelage of chefs Wayne Nish and Hilary Gregg. Two years later, he moved to Chicago and worked at some of the nation’s most famed restaurants, including Charlie Trotter’s, Ambria, Everest and Blackbird.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Paul Virant and other top speakers and celebrities.

Paul Virant Videos

Chef BBQ @ Home: Paul Virant demos marinated Japanese ...
Paul Virant on Vimeo
Paul Virant - James Beard Awards, 2015 on Vimeo

How do I book Paul Virant to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Paul Virant for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Paul Virant, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Paul Virant or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Paul Virant for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Paul Virant, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a virtual event is $10,000 - $20,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire Paul Virant, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Paul Virant speak about?

Paul Virant is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Celebrity Chef, Food & Beverage, Lifestyle and Nutrition.

Where does Paul Virant travel from?

Paul Virant generally travels from Chicago, IL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Paul Virant?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Paul Virant for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Paul Virant for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Paul Virant or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Paul Virant is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Celebrity Chef, Food & Beverage and Lifestyle. The estimated speaking fee range to book Paul Virant for virtual events is $10,000 - $20,000. Please contact us for live event fees. Paul Virant generally travels from Chicago, IL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Art Smith, Mary Nolan and Nikki Cascone. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Paul Virant for an upcoming event.

Paul Virant Videos

Chef BBQ @ Home: Paul Virant demos marinated Japanese ...
Paul Virant on Vimeo
Paul Virant - James Beard Awards, 2015 on Vimeo
Canning with Paul Virant of Vie, Part 1 on Vimeo

Paul Virant Reviews

  • Everything went splendidly on our end. Chef Virant was a pleasure to work with, personable and flexible.
    Notre Dame Campus Dining - Jun 16 2017

Paul Virant News

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All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.