18 Chefs to Follow on Instagram, Ranked

1. Magnus Nillson

Follow culinary juggernaut Magnus Nillson as he forages and harvests ingredients across stunning Nordic landscapes. Faviken may be an impossible dream destination, but Nillson's grams make you feel one tiny step closer.

A day of ice fishing with the family. Looks like someone will be having fried filets of perch on buttered rye crisp bread tonight. #aborre #pinkandpurplearethecoloursofapproachingspring #ellaconqueroroffish

A photo posted by Magnus Nilsson (@faviken) on Apr 10, 2016 at 6:39am PDT

2. Jenner Tomaska

Executive chef at Grant Achatz's Chicago restaurant Next, Jenner Tomaska shows off pristine ingredients and plates. Next is an exciting restaurant to follow, with its ever-changing themes, and Tomaska's photos reflect its changing styles accordingly.

#Sea of #ceviche As with the cuisine of most cultures, certain foods and preparations change over time. From left to right in the box, a progression of Peruvian ceviche. Starting with the Moche people from nearly 2000 years ago the fish is marinated with fermented #banana and #passionfruit (tumbo). Second, an Incan version with the fish being marinated in #chicha or fermented #corn juice. In the glass bowl, ceviche from the #Peruvian coast with salt and #ajiamarillo which is a very important pepper in Peruvian cuisine. Finally, ceviche with #Spanish influence of #citrus and olive oil. #chicagofood #eater #southamerica #foodandwine #eaterchicago

A photo posted by Jenner Tomaska (@jennertomaska) on May 20, 2016 at 7:34pm PDT

3. Timothy Hollingsworth

LA-based chef and owner of Otium and Barrel & Ashes, Timothy Hollingsworth has an Instagram that shines with fresh California seafood and picturesque lighting.

A photo posted by Timothy Hollingsworth (@chef_timothy) on Mar 12, 2016 at 5:16pm PST

4. Dominique Crenn

Recently named the World's Best Female Chef in San Pellegrino's World's 50 Best Restaurants list (and named Eater's Chef of the Year in 2015 in a nicely non-gendered ranking), Dominique Crenn is an unparalleled artist and badass. Follow her for behind-the-scenes looks at Crenn restaurants and occasional celebrity sightings.

Best lunch place in the city :) @petitcrenn

A photo posted by @dominiquecrenn on Apr 13, 2016 at 11:52am PDT

5. Christina Tosi

Pastry queen Christina Tosi's Instagram is packed with the excess, decadence, and charm characteristic of Milk Bar. This is where trends are born.

6 layers of a baller #carrotcake bday celebration @milkbarstore !!!

A video posted by christinatosi (@christinatosi) on May 18, 2016 at 6:07am PDT

6. Mathew Rice

Mathew Rice is pastry chef at The Publican in Chicago (he'll soon move to Nashville to head up the pastry program at Pastaria), and his work and photos are rooted in delightful nostalgia. Expect rainbow sprinkles, snickerdoodles, cookie crumbs, and artistry all at once.

Matcha-mint chip ice cream cake.

A photo posted by Mathew Rice (@mathewsweet) on Apr 13, 2016 at 3:25pm PDT

7. Elisabeth Prueitt

Everything Elisabeth Prueitt, pastry chef and co-owner of San Francisco's beloved Tartine Bakery, makes is beautiful. Just everything.

I worked in a salmon "camp" in Alaska in 1982 where most of it was broken down or sold whole to Japan. We ate much of it straight out of the water, grilled, but some smoked, and a little cured. One would think that after working 14-hour days and being surrounded by and eating salmon constantly for 6 weeks would dampen my taste for it, but I still love salmon. Here's a great cure: Remove pin bones with tweezers or needle nose pliers. For a 2-pound filet combine 4 Tbs salt, 4 Tbs sugar, 1Tbs ground white pepper (or combination of white, black, allspice, pink or green peppercorns), about 5-10 juniper berries if you like them. Mix with 1 large bunch dill, chopped. Use a glass or earthenware container and lay cheese cloth inside. Spread some dill mixture in bottom, lay on fish, spread the rest on top, cover, weight, refrigerate for 5-7 days. Scrape or rinse. Refrigerate smith day, eat. #gravadlax #gravlax

A photo posted by Elisabeth Prueitt (@lizprueitt_tartine) on May 1, 2016 at 12:37pm PDT

8. Iliana Regan

Chef and owner of Elizabeth in Chicago, Iliana Regan forages for ingredients in Midwestern meadows and forests, and designs cheeky menus with themes like the "Lord of the Rings" or "Chronicles of Narnia." Her work and photos beautify the Midwest (impressive, right?), and her plates are gorgeous.

Sometimes at work I make myself a fancy little salad.

A photo posted by Iliana Regan (@elizabethrestaurant_and_co) on May 22, 2016 at 12:16pmsted by George Kovach (@georgekovach) on May 30, 2015 at 12:55pm PDT

9. Suzanne Goin

This year's recipient of the James Beard Outstanding Chef Award, Suzanne Goin is chef and co-owner of Lucques and more. Her Instagram is French food, seafood, children, dish-crafting, picnics, and personal fitness, and we're all very jealous.

Wood oven roasted shrimp, mussels and chorizo w smoked paprika butter @aocla @mistercontinental #new #spring #woodoven

A photo posted by Suzanne Goin (@suzannegoin) on Apr 2, 2016 at 11:03pm PDT

10. Andy Ricker

Portland-based chef and owner of Pok Pok, Andy Ricker's 'grams are heavy on the cat posts (and what's the matter with that, really?), but occasional glimpses of Thai food are worth it.

Plaa duuk yang, laap plaa duuk, muu nam tok at Som Tam Jay So! Saep elee

A photo posted by Andy Ricker (@pawkhrua) on May 30, 2016 at 10:27pm PDT

11. Rene Redzepi

Rene Redzepi, the world's most influential chef and king of Instagram? Redzepi's posts alternate between ingredient porn and plated perfection. For the past few months, his account has been packed with exotic and bizarre ingredients from Australia, where Noma held a 10-week pop-up. Follow along to see what inspiration will shape the upcoming reincarnation of Noma a la urban farm.

King crab from northern Norway is on the menu

A video posted by Rene Redzepi (@reneredzepinoma) on May 13, 2016 at 5:03am PDT

12. David Chang

David Chang's Instagram account is a peek into the zany mind of this culinary superstar. His photos and videos are hypnotic, and his captions are punchy and weird — just as we should expect from the creator of the Momofuku brand.

Momofuku ramen. Probably version #163. Better than ever #nsfw

A video posted by Dave Chang (@davidchang) on Mar 29, 2016 at 7:20am PDT

13. April Bloomfield

British, NYC-based chef April Bloomfield loves greens and pigs (she's published books called A Girl and Her Greens and A Girl and Her Pig), and her Instagram account reflects just that. Expect bold photos and farm animal cameos.

Sleeping piggies .... #threelittlepigs #agirlandherpig

A photo posted by aprilbloomfield (@aprilbloomfield) on Aug 31, 2015 at 8:34am PDT

14. John Besh

New Orleans chef John Besh has an entire empire of NOLA restaurants, and each of them shine in his Insta-spotlight. You'll see his home-cooked meals too, a smattering of New Orleans, Louisiana, and Southern stick-to-your-ribs fare. Besh also likes hashtags (#cookfromtheheart, #brunch, #happy).

Cooking gumbo z'herbes with @davidkinch at home on the #bayou #lunch #Louisiana #southernfood #beshbigeasy #cookfromtheheart

A photo posted by Chef John Besh (@chefjohnbesh) on Jul 23, 2015 at 11:17am PDT

15. Joanne Chang

Named Outstanding Baker at this year's James Beard Awards, Joanne Chang of Flour Bakery creates beautiful pastries that serve only to fill Instagrammers with deep senses of longing. Check out her sticky buns.

Have a Brioche Au Chocolat for breakfast today! #flourbakery

A photo posted by joannebchang (@joannebchang) on May 25, 2016 at 4:32am PDT

16. Vinny Dotolo

Vinny Dotolo, half of the LA-based Jon and Vinny team, shares brightly colored photos of pizza, Italian ices, and pasta — everything one needs from an Insta-account.

new shapes

A photo posted by @animalvinny on Apr 17, 2016 at 11:07am PDT

17. Dan Barber

Dan Barber's Instagram account is mostly scenes of Blue Hill, the farm at the epicenter of America's farm-to-table movement. Each photo is Barber's ode to his ingredients and his mantra, "You are what you eat eats too."

2/3 -- the red-pepper-pecking hens at @bluehillfarm

A photo posted by Dan Barber (@chefdanbarber) on Feb 23, 2016 at 10:47am PST

18. Nancy Silverton

James Beard Outstanding Chef of 2014 and queen of bread, Nancy Silverton leads a precious life full of sourdough, festivals, and celebrity chef get-togethers. Instagram is for making you feel like she is your friend.

Current Situation. @ Galloni Proscuitto #parma

A photo posted by Nancy Silverton (@nancysilverton) on May 10, 2016 at 7:10pm PDT