Cook of the Week Challenge Beverage expert joins judges panel for pumpkin beer challenge

Michael Bach

Bach is the wine manager for Binny's Beverage Depot in Arlington Heights and he's been with the company for seven years. "Food and wine is my life's passion." he says. "I strive to enjoy everyday and always expand my palate." He fuels that passion with extensive world travels and supplements it with sommelier education from The International Sommelier Guild, the Court of Master Sommeliers Guild, and a winemaking degree from University of California-Davis.

Brian Emmett

Emmett has been baking, cooking, serving and designing the unique experiences for family and friends for two decades. His obsession with food, baking in particular, rose to a head in 2013 when he entered CBS's "The American Baking Competition." He won the elimination-style competition and was named America's top amateur baker. The prize package included a book deal and "Bake Off," in which he shares more than 75 recipes, is due out in the spring.

Penny Kazmier

Kazmier, a wife and mother of four living in South Barrington, won the Daily Herald's inaugural Cook of the Week Challenge in 2011. Fearless in the kitchen, she's tackled everything from homemade sweet potato pasta to foie gras. She never passes up an opportunity to try new foods or learn more about cooking. For the last three years she has shared stories and recipes with Daily Herald readers through her Culinary Adventures column.

Suzy Singh

Chef Singh, a Top 4 finalist in FOX's "MasterChef" Season 2 (2011-2012), joined Bloomingdale-based NOW Foods as research and development corporate chef in 2013 to drive NOW Real Food new product development and create healthy solutions for existing products. She's currently formulating and developing recipes around the Living Now line of allergy-friendly and gluten-free grains, flours and baking products, as well as Ellyndale Foods, which includes natural and organic specialty oils and innovative gourmet products.