Amy Brandwein is the owner of Centrolina and Piccolina Restaurant in Washington D.C., She is a late bloomer in the food industry, graduating with a political science degree in 1993. She decided to change careers and focus and the culinary world, so she attended "The L'Academie de Cuisine" in 2000. She is a four time nominee for the James Bead Award for Best Chef: in the Mid-Atlantic.