Speakers 2026
The education opportunities at Catersource + The Special Event feature presentations from more than 100 industry luminaries who have been there, done that, and are armed with content that’s trendy, thought-provoking, and always influential.
Paul Buchanan, Chef, Primal Alchemy
Chef Paul Buchanan is a leader in the Sustainability/Slow Food movement. His passion for locally sourced ingredients drove him to open Primal Alchemy Catering (PAC) in 2001 after working for esteemed chefs Nancy Silverton (Campanile, La Brea Bakery), Pascal Olhats (Pascals), Joachim Splichel (Patina), among others. As the first true Farm-to-Table catering company in Southern California, PAC has created seasonal, locally sourced cuisine to the TED Conference, Billabong, Urban Decay, Garnier, United States Green Building Council, countless social events and has hosted the Long Beach Urban Farm Dinner since its inception in 2010. In addition to events, Chef Paul is also an experienced Salumiere, bringing in whole Iberico pigs from a farm in Napa Valley and curing all the salumi in house. Celebrating 23 years in 2025, Primal Alchemy produces events for up to 2000 guests, at any location in greater Southern California. As a recipient of many awards including multiple years as Best Chef and Best Caterer by the Readers of the Press Telegram and the Long Beach Post, award winning, Chef Paul has been instrumental in cultivating the urban agricultural movement, advocating for healthy food in schools and is dedicated to food education, partnering with farmers, promoting sustainability and, of course…cooking what nature provides. Chef Paul enjoys traveling to try new places to eat,, bike riding, hiking, camping, reading (cookbooks of course), commiserating with fellow like-minded chefs, spending time with his wife and business partner, Dana, playing frisbee with his son, Drew, an employee at UCSB and cooking on his 1884 Vintage Garland Woodburning stove at their cabin.