2026 40 Under 40 Honoree: Christopher A. Galarza (36)
“I really enjoy being a beginner at something and being reminded that growth requires patience, repetition and a willingness to get things wrong.”
PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA
Christopher A. Galarza
Founder & CEO, Forward Dining Solutions; Founder, EcoChef
As executive chef at Chatham University’s Eden Hall Campus, Christopher Galarza had been skeptical of induction cooking. Like many chefs, he had been taught that gas was essential.
Then he experienced a kitchen that was cooler, quieter and more comfortable without sacrificing performance. “I started asking why we accepted excessive heat, poor air quality and difficult working conditions as unavoidable parts of our profession,” he says.
Through Forward Dining Solutions and EcoChef, Galarza now advocates for more sustainable commercial kitchens. He also became the first chef to complete the American Culinary Federation’s Certified Executive Chef practical exam in an all-electric kitchen.
But for Galarza, sustainability is ultimately about people. Having experienced homelessness and food insecurity as a teenager, he now helps lead Grateful Gatherings, which provides meals to Pittsburghers in need.
“Pittsburgh gave me a place to rebuild my life,” he says. “I want to leave this industry better than I found it.”
