Highland Park, founded in 1798, still makes Scotch with the same enduring belief and integrity, and according to the same exacting standards that have defined the brand for centuries. Its proud distilling tradition, exquisite attention to detail, and deep-rooted honesty combine to make Highland Park one of the most respected single malts in the world.

Fresh Origins Farm produces MicroGreens, PetiteGreens, TenderGreens and Edible Flowers in the North San Diego County town of San Marcos. Their ideal growing climate allows them to produce a micro green that is robust, healthy, and highly flavored. Combining the benefits of an amazing climate with a deep passion for quality and innovation, Fresh Origins has become the largest grower of MicroGreens and Edible Flowers in the country.

From the fresh, open farmlands of New Zealand comes Cervena Natural Tender venison. To meet the Cervena standards, the farmed animals must meet specific criteria: they must be three years old or younger, and they must have been naturally raised. That means that every deer Cervena certifies roamed and grazed freely, was never given growth hormones or steroids, and was fed solely on grass, hay, and silage. Cervena venison is transported and processed according to strict quality-assured standards of the Cervena brand.

Emmi Roth USA, a subsidiary of the Emmi Group, is a leading provider of specialty and artisan cheeses and premium fresh dairy products. Their expansive portfolio includes award-winning cheeses from Switzerland, Europe, and the United States, each crafted with pride from the freshest local milk. Key cheese brands include Kaltbach Cave-aged, Grand Cru and Buttermilk Blue. For all of its products, Emmi Roth USA balances tradition and innovation to deliver distinctive offerings of the highest quality to the retail and food service trades.

Sysco is the global leader in selling, marketing, and distributing a wide variety of food products to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, hotels, and other customers who prepare meals away from home. Its family of products also includes equipment and suppliers for the food service and hospitality industries.

Siembra Azul (Blue Harvest) is a small-batch, artisanal, super premium tequila made from 100% blue agave, grown and produced in the town of Arandas, in the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico. It is a kosher and double distilled spirit of unparalleled quality.

With more than 30 years experience in the wholesale seafood business, True World Foods is, quite simply, the trusted source for the finest quality fresh and frozen seafood to the foodservice industry. For this reason, more than 8,000 restaurants, hotels, country clubs, cruise ships and specialty retail markets rely on True World products to feed their customers. As one of the largest wholesale distributors of fresh and frozen seafood and specialty grocery items in North America, True World Foods is uniquely positioned to offer customers a superior level of convenience, service, and quality.

Founded in 2004 by Jim and Diane Matthes, Wild Rose Water Buffalo Ranch provides all grass-fed water buffalo and goat meat, free of hormones and antibiotics, resulting in a tasty and lean product to satisfy both the health conscious and culinary-minded consumer. The ranch’s goal is to breed and develop animals that are hardy and parasite resistant for the Texas Gulf Coast. Both Mattheses are members of the American Water Buffalo Association and the National Pygmy Goat Association.

Shrimp Hut is known as a quality mobile seafood service in Houston, Texas. Selling shrimp exclusively sourced near Houston and mostly to restaurants in the Heights area, this company does business with its friends and makes friends with its business associates.

It was in the 1920s that two Armenian brothers—Melkoum and Mouchegh Petrossian—first introduced Paris to the magic of caviar and, in doing so, founded the company that today is the premier buyer and importer of Russian caviar worldwide. For more than 80 years, the Petrossian family developed the caviar market, maintaining a rare and privileged relationship with the Russian fisheries. Even today, the family personally chooses, onsite, the very best of the fresh, high quality caviar produced in Russia during each catch. Petrossian Caviar products possess an unmistakable superiority in taste, texture, color, and size.

Wisconsin's unique cheese making heritage has produced exceptional cheese for years. Today, third- and fourth-generation cheese makers are continuing old-world traditions and setting new standards in cheese making craftsmanship and artistry. The state's 1,200 cheese makers produce more than 600 varieties, types, and styles of cheese, all made under the most stringent state standards for safety, grading, and quality. Wisconsin was the first state to grade cheese for quality and the only state with an advanced training program to help cheese makers become true masters of their craft. It's no wonder Wisconsin Cheese wins more awards than any U.S. state or nation in the world. For more information, plus recipes and photo galleries that feature Wisconsin Cheddar, click here.

Founded in 1980, Chefs’ Produce is a Texas based produce wholesaler with a history of innovation and superior customer service. Their distribution centers are located in Houston and the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Their warehouse facilities offer a continuous cold-chain and eight types of temperature and humidity environments to sustain the proper storage of every product, and they deliver produce to chefs six days a week with a fleet of over 40 refrigerated trucks and trailers.

There is only one brand of dinnerware used for service at the 2011 StarChefs.com Rising Star Galas, and it's Verterra. While Verterra’s Fallen Leaves can't promise that your dish will be guilt-free, they can promise that your dinnerware will be. Their environmentally-friendly plates, bowls, and serving dishes are made from only two products: fallen leaves and water. They're non-toxic, biodegradable, compostable, durable, lightweight, convenient, and downright stylish.