Chef’s Table: A Discussion with Spike Mendelsohn & Oliver English

Join the Institute of Politics for a conversation with Evangelos Spiros "Spike" Mendelsohn and Oliver English on the intersection of food, policy, and advocacy. As chefs and changemakers, Spike and Oliver are reimagining how our food systems can promote sustainability, equity, and health. This discussion will explore how culinary leaders are driving impact beyond the kitchen — shaping policy and inspiring community action.

This conversation will be moderated by Marc Adelman, Adelmania Consulting.

About Spike Mendelsohn

Evangelos Spiros "Spike" Mendelsohn is a Washington, D.C.-based chef, restaurateur, and television personality known for his fast-casual restaurants and advocacy for food policy. He gained national recognition after appearing on Bravo's Top Chef and has worked with some of the world's most acclaimed chefs.

Advocacy and community work
Beyond his restaurant ventures, Mendelsohn is an advocate for sustainable food practices and healthy eating:

• D.C. Food Policy Council: In 2015, he was appointed Chairman of the D.C. Food Policy Council by Mayor Muriel Bowser to help create a sustainable food system for the city.
• Food activism: He has worked with nonprofits like CARE International and DC Central Kitchen to address hunger and food waste.
• Eat the Change: As co-founder of the company Eat the Change, Mendelsohn aims to create "climate-friendly foods delicious, fun, and accessible"

About Oliver English

Oliver English is a Filmmaker, Chef & Food Advocate. Oliver is the CEO & CO-Founder of Common Table Creative, a compact-driven production company focused on the future of food.

Growing up in his family’s restaurants, he has been intimately involved in the world of food ever since. For the past several years, he led the company’s international development, opening restaurants throughout North America, Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. He has learned first-hand the positive and negative effects of globalization and climate change on the world's food system, which have instilled a fierce desire to highlight these issues and inspire real change in the world through visual and experiential storytelling. 

Shift to food advocacy and filmmaking 

• Focus on sustainability: Witnessing the effects of globalization and climate change on the food system inspired English to shift his focus from fine dining to activism through art.
• Common Table Creative: He co-founded this company to tell stories about the future of sustainable food.
• Feeding Tomorrow: As a co-director and producer, he created the documentary Feeding Tomorrow (2024), which explores the connection between people's health, planetary wellness, regenerative farming, and local land empowerment.

About Marc Adelman

Marc Adelman is the founder of the strategic “Do-Tank” firm Adelmania Consulting, which focuses on creating client-specific initiatives that drive interest, awareness and opportunities for both discrete and large-scale projects with clients ranging from Marriott Hotels to the Clinton Foundation and the Motion Picture Association of America.