Honey Bees and How They Feed Us

Alex Blifford, ZINC New Haven’s Chef de Cuisine, cooks with integrity. A native of Branford, CT, Alex’s first culinary experience was at ZINC New Haven, when he was 17 years old. Inspired by his time at ZINC, he enrolled in the Center for Culinary Arts and graduated as valedictorian of his class. He cooked his way up and down the coast of Connecticut fine tuning his skills. With his background in classic French and South American cuisine, his return to ZINC New Haven was hailed, first as Sous Chef and now as Chef de Cuisine. Alex’s key motivation is to provide every guest with the most memorable dining experience. His stellar work ethic, positive attitude and tenacious drive makes him the perfect right hand for Chef-Owner, Denise Appel.

Sommelier and General Manager Michael Egan began his wine career in Tulsa, Oklahoma. While enrolled in college, Michael worked in fine dining restaurant and in the wine and spirit industry. It was his exposure to wines while working in restaurants that would grow his passion and make him want to learn everything he possibly could. During his tenure at ZINC New Haven, his talent for food and wine pairing and his devotion to the education of the public, as well as the ZINC New Haven service staff, has helped to establish ZINC New Haven as a wine destination for New England. Michael spends much of his free time continuing his education. He is currently studying for the Master Sommelier Program.

Bill Hesbach is a Connecticut native with a background in engineering. He's an Eastern Apicultural Society Certified Master Beekeeper, a graduate of the University of Montana's master beekeeping program, and the Connecticut Beekeepers Association president. Bill also operates a sideline bee business called Wing Dance Apiary in Cheshire, CT., that produces a crop of artisanal raw honey and other natural hive products. Bill teaches bee biology and various beekeeping methods at meetings hosted by the Backyard Beekeeping Association and the Connecticut Beekeepers Association. Bill is an active member of the Eastern Apicultural Society, where he is part of the Master Beekeeper Certification program. Bill is a regular guest speaker at local beekeeping seminars in the surrounding states and was presented the Distinguished Speaker Award at the 2019 EAS conference. His special interests in beekeeping include bee biology and flight and the connection between local flora and bee behavior. He's a published author, and his articles on beekeeping appear in Bee Culture, Bee Craft, and The American Bee Journal.