Lucia Osa-Merlo - Paella Lovers United Judge since 2002

Born in the heart of Paella country, Lucia Osa-Melero hails from Cullera, Spain in the Valencian province.  Lucia is the latest incarnation in a long line of chefs and restaurateurs.  She began working along side her mother, father and brother in the family's restaurant business when was she 16 years old.  The family restaurant provided Lucia with an excellent environment to perfect her cooking skills and gain a culinary education in traditional Valencian cuisine.  Currently residing in Austin, TX, she continues to hone a generations old traditional paella recipe.

EMMETT FOX - Paella Lovers United Judge since 2007

Longtime Austin chef, co-owner of Asti Trattoria, a three-star Italian restaurant in the Hyde Park neighborhood, and Fino Restaurant Patio & Bar, a three-star Mediterranean eatery near 29th Street and Lamar Boulevard.

In 1985 Emmett moved to Boston, MA as chef of The Wild Goose in Fanueil Hall.During his following experience at BNU and Arturo's Ristorante, he discovered his niche for Italian cooking.It is also where he met fellow chef and wife to be, Lisa. Emmett and Lisa moved to Austin in 1992.Emmett's jobs included an Executive Chef job overseeing BitterEnd, Mezzaluna and Granite Cafe, and serving on the board for the Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Festival. Opening ASTI Trattoria in 2000 was the sweet culmination of twenty years of culinary passion.  Emmett and Lisa continue their love of travel and frequent trattorias, vineyards, bistros and 4-star restaurants all over the Mediterranean

ADAM AHREN - Paella Lovers United Judge since 2009

Adam Ahrens has been working in the Austin music scene since 1993 both as a performer and recording artist, songwriter and producer.  His primary music styles, which include acoustic finger style, Hawaiian slack key and original compositions are a result of studying under such guitar luminaries as Steve James & Junior Brown. Guitar hounds will be interested in Adam Ahrens' self-titled debut.  His expansive repertoire of acoustic finger style and Hawaiian slack key leads to down-home blues  - Jim Caligiuri. Austin Chronicle   Ahrens has performed in musical theatre in Alan Govnars (Documentary Arts) production of Blind Lemon: Prince of Country Blues as a featured guitar player, as well as touring Europe with notable singer-songwriters Tish Hinojosa and J.T. Van Zandt.  With Music as a full time focus, food and the enjoyment of the culinary experience lies just underneath the surface for Adam and his affinity for Catalan culture have always been a necessary stop while traveling Europe. “Paella has become a right of passage for Chefs and enthusiasts alike’ and Mr. Ahrens pulls no punches when cooking, designing or savoring this Spanish hallmark.

JOHN GEHRING-LIKER - Paella Lovers United Judge since 2009

John grew up helping out in the kitchen; his father, a Croatian immigrant, became a butcher’s apprentice at age 11 so he wouldn’t ever have to worry about having food to eat. Food was taken very seriously in John's house.

John began cooking while in his early teens, then got really serious about it when his wife (now known as the most glorious spousal unit) purchased a decent set of cookware. John says, “Being a home-builder by trade at the time, I knew about the importance of good tools, but it never dawned on me that the same held for tools used in the kitchen.”

Although he owns more than 200 cookbooks, he reads them for inspiration rather than cooking by recipe. He’s outfitted an outdoor patio kitchen for the specific purpose of cooking and hosting. He says, “The bottom line is that I love to cook … and I really enjoy the smiling faces I often see when folks consume the food that I prepare."

Recruited by Head Judge, Emmett Fox, this is John's first year to judge for Paella Lovers United's paella cookoff.

LUKE HURSEY - Paella Lovers United Judge since 2009

Six years of professional cooking, last year and a half paella chef at FINO Restaurant. He has cooked over 300 paella's in the last year alone.

Michael Krasnick - Paella Lovers United Judge since 2002

Mike has been with Paella Lovers United since its inception. He was enthusiastic right from the beginning and has contributed numerous ideas to help make our event even better. Unfortunately, Mike passed away mid 2008. He will be sadly missed.