Wylie Dufresne

Wylie Dufresne

Keynote Speaker: Chef, Owner of Du’s Donuts, Former Owner of New York's Highly Celebrated wd~50 Restaurant & Expert in Molecular Gastronomy

Wylie Dufresne Biography

Wylie Dufresne is a Rhode Island native that started in the food industry running his great-grandfather’s diner. He has had a decorated culinary career, winning a James Beard award, Michelin star and becoming a leading American proponent of molecular gastronomy, the movement to incorporate science into food presentation and preparation. Best known for his ingenious creations at renowned wd~50 and Alder, Chef Dufresnse now leads the popular Du’s Donuts where he applies his imagination and inventive techniques to crafting the most amazing donuts. This latest venture makes his favorite customers, his two daughters, exceptionally happy – and also a favorite at school career day.

Dufresne is a graduate of The French Culinary Institute in New York. In 1992, Wylie completed a B.A. in philosophy at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. From 1994 through 1999, he worked for Jean-Georges Vongerichten, where he was eventually named sous chef. In 1998 he was chef de cuisine at Vongerichten's Prime in The Bellagio, Las Vegas. In 1999, he left to become the first chef at 71 Clinton Fresh Food. In April 2003, he opened his 70-seat restaurant, wd~50, named for the chef's initials and the street address, as well as a pun on WD-40, on Clinton Street on Manhattan's Lower East Side. The eatery was awarded a Michelin star in 2006. Wd-50 has also been recognized as one of the Top 10 Molecular Gastronomy Restaurants in the U.S. by GAYOT.com.

In 2006, Dufresne competed on Iron Chef America. From 2007-2010, he appeared as a guest judge on Bravo's Top Chef. He was invited to participate in Top Chef Masters in 2009 where he placed third out of four in the preliminary rounds. Dufresne also appeared in the final of the United Kingdom version of Masterchef.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Wylie Dufresne and other top speakers and celebrities.

Wylie Dufresne Videos

Wylie Dufresne Reinvents the Breakfast Sandwich with Cara Nicoletti
The Perfect Doughnut, According to Wylie Dufresne
Wd~50: The Last Days Of Wylie Dufresne's New York City Restaurant | TIME

How do I book Wylie Dufresne to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Wylie Dufresne 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 Wylie Dufresne, 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 Wylie Dufresne or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Wylie Dufresne for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Wylie Dufresne, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a live event is $10,000 - $20,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire Wylie Dufresne, 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 Wylie Dufresne speak about?

Wylie Dufresne is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Television & Film, Celebrity Chef, Food & Beverage, Disruptive Thinking, Inspirational, Journalism, Government, Economy, Innovation, Technology, Literary and Culture.

Where does Wylie Dufresne travel from?

Wylie Dufresne generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Wylie Dufresne?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Wylie Dufresne 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 Wylie Dufresne 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 Wylie Dufresne 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.


Wylie Dufresne is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Television & Film, Celebrity Chef and Food & Beverage. The estimated speaking fee range to book Wylie Dufresne for live events is $10,000 - $20,000. Please contact us for virtual event fees. Wylie Dufresne generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are David Chang, Calvin Trillin and Sir Richard Branson. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Wylie Dufresne for an upcoming event.

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 11/11/2024.

Wylie Dufresne Videos

Wylie Dufresne Reinvents the Breakfast Sandwich with Cara Nicoletti
The Perfect Doughnut, According to Wylie Dufresne
Wd~50: The Last Days Of Wylie Dufresne's New York City Restaurant | TIME
Who's Who Inductee Wylie Dufresne
The Incredible Egg: Wylie Dufresne at TEDxCambridge

Wylie Dufresne News

  • One Award-Winning Chef — and His Surprisingly Cheap Eating Habits

    Dufresne takes the foil-wrapped sandwich with him down 23rd Street, walking at a rapid clip. He’s dressed more like a hiker than a world-renowned chef revered for artfully plated, scientifically forward food, including delicacies like fried mayonnaise and savory everything-bagel ice cream.

  • Wylie Dufresne Is the Magician of Offbeat Flavors at Du’s Donuts

    Today marks the return of science-forward chef Wylie Dufresne with the debut of Du’s Donuts, his deceptively simple doughnut and coffee shop in Williamsburg’s William Vale Hotel. Du’s opened at 8 a.m. today with 1,000 fresh-made doughnuts that are on track to sell out by mid-afternoon sold out as of 2:41 p.m.

  • Du's Donuts: 'Top Chef' delivers elevated comfort food to Darien

    One reason Chef Wylie Dufresne got into the doughnut business is because “they’ve been around long enough to prove they aren’t a fad.” “No disrespect to the cupcake,” he added. “I’m not going into the cupcake business.”

  • Why Molecular Gastronomy Was Far More Than a Fad in the Restaurant World

    Wylie Dufresne stands back to watch his employee operate a culinary Rube Goldberg machine. “This is Junior. He’s been with me since the opening of WD~50,” Dufresne says, recalling the groundbreaking molecular-gastronomy mecca he operated in New York from 2003 to 2014.

  • Wylie Dufresne, Who Opened New York's Most Out-There Restaurant, on What He's Up to Now

    Wylie Dufresne has a cold. “There are so many things coursing through my veins right now,” the chef says between hacking coughs, “I’m not sure which ones are helping and which aren’t.” It is perhaps understandable that Dufresne finds his immune system currently compromised, as a lot of things are happening all at once for the innovative chef.

  • How do I book Wylie Dufresne to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Wylie Dufresne 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 Wylie Dufresne, 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 Wylie Dufresne or any other speaker of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Wylie Dufresne for a speaking engagement?

    Speaking fees for Wylie Dufresne, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a live event is $10,000 - $20,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire Wylie Dufresne, 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 Wylie Dufresne speak about?

    Wylie Dufresne is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Television & Film, Celebrity Chef, Food & Beverage, Disruptive Thinking, Inspirational, Journalism, Government, Economy, Innovation, Technology, Literary and Culture.
  • Where does Wylie Dufresne travel from?

    Wylie Dufresne generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
  • Who is the agent for Wylie Dufresne?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Wylie Dufresne 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 Wylie Dufresne 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 Wylie Dufresne 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.
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