Jimmy Carbone is a New York City-based restaurant owner, event producer, radio host and community leader with more than two decades of experience as a bar/restaurant owner. He was first turned on to the culinary scene when he read Kermit Love's "Adventures on the Wine Route" 25 years ago.

Jimmy is passionate about supporting and protecting local businesses as well as our regional food system, and is a founding board member and President of the East Village Independent Merchants Association and an advisor to nonprofits, government agencies and startup companies working on regional food and drink. Jimmy is also the host of Beer Sessions Radio on the Heritage Radio Network, which recently celebrated its 500th episode (http://heritageradionetwork.org/series/beer-sessions-radio-tm/), and a founder of the Good Bear Seal/July Good Beer Month.

Through Food Karma Projects, Jimmy produces unique events such as Pig Island and Brisket King NYC, that highlight local food, chefs, beer and wine, as well as nonprofit groups working to improve our local food system.

From 2005 to 2017, the Back Room at Jimmy’s No. 43, an East Village bar and restaurant emphasizing craft beer and locally sourced ingredients, served as a community incubator for numerous local food and independent art initiatives.