Executive Chef and Owner
White Pine Kitchen

Aaron is a self-taught chef with over two decades of experience. He is currently the estate chef for the Consulate of France in Boston.

He has held positions ranging from the Executive Chef and Cooking School Chef at Saltbox Kitchen and Saltbox Farm in Concord, MA to a test cook at America’s Test Kitchen.

He and his wife, Danielle, are in the process of launching their own Private chef service, White Pine Kitchen. Aaron is from the Chicago area where he grew up surrounded by a wealth of family and of the food and cultures of that city. He resides in Maynard, MA with his wife, two sons, and dog. 

Executive Chef and Owner
Gentles Cuisine

Jason Gentles is chef and owner of Gentles Cuisine, based in Lowell, Massachusetts. His culinary career spans 20 years. Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, Chef Gentles has developed his passion for the flavors of the Caribbean and Africa through work in restaurants, catering companies and the Royal Caribbean. Chef Gentles’ culinary style is a reflection of his Jamaican roots, infused with global influences and a touch of his own innovative flair. He has received numerous awards, including winning the 2020 Boston Jerkfest competition. He is a master of balancing flavors, creating dishes that are both comforting and exciting. His passion for fresh, high-quality ingredients shines through in every dish he creates.

Executive Chef and Owner
Seasons

Cooking has always been Shaun’s calling, and he has turned that passion into a long, rewarding career. After graduating from culinary school with honors, he was recruited by one of Boston’s top fine-dining restaurants and private clubs. Under a Master Swiss Chef, he refined his culinary skills before expanding his experience as a Banquet Chef at a Miami Beach resort, again working with a German Master Chef, Returning to New England, he helped launch multiple successful operations, from private restaurants to major golf events. Eventually becoming an Executive Chef at a private country club, Shaun loves cooking with local ingredients that showcase New England’s rich flavors and ever-changing seasons.

This year Concord-based Welch’s will be recognized at Open Table’s Chopped for Charity as a valued partner in our mission. Founded more than 150 years ago and headquartered in Massachusetts, Welch’s is an iconic and leading fruit-based food, beverage, and agricultural cooperative owned by 650 family farms across the United States. Welch’s purpose of nourishing through the goodness of fruit is at the core of everything it does and unites its growers and employees in its quest to be the best. Welch’s is on a mission to sustainably deliver flavorful moments to consumers everywhere with our delicious real fruit juices, refreshingly sweet sparking juices, and family-favorite fruit spreads, jams, and jellies.

For the past four years, Welch’s has supported Open Table with food donations and employee volunteer sessions, making it one of the food pantry’s greatest corporate supporters.

Three to four times a year, Welch’s makes a substantial in-kind food contribution of jams or fruit juice to Open Table. Each donation includes two pallets of products and weighs 1500 to 2000 pounds. Because these fresh off-the-line products have been through Welch’s product testing process, the pallets have been broken into and can no longer be sold to distributors. Instead, Open Table is the lucky recipient.

In addition to donated food and drinks, Welch’s employees are annual volunteers at Open Table.  They have participated in activities at the former Beharrell Street location in Concord as well as the main pantry in Maynard. Most recently, a group from Welch’s hand painted our window mural in Maynard.

Recently, Welch’s found a creative way to support Open Table. In anticipation of their upcoming move from Concord to Waltham, Welch’s held an employee “yard sale” with proceeds to benefit Open Table. The sale featured memorabilia and other items from their corporate headquarters and raised over $1,000 from employee donations.

Open Table truly appreciates our ongoing relationship with Welch’s, and the many ways they support our mission. We are proud to recognize them as our 2025 Chopped for Charity Community Partner Honoree.