ART SMITH'S CHOCOLATE CAKE

For Art Smith, formerly Oprah Winfrey’s personal chef and now co-owner of five restaurants throughout the country, dessert is not optional—especially at Thanksgiving.

“Life can be tough, but a little sweetness can help to ease that,” says the Top Chef

Masters alum. “Food brings people together in good times and bad.”

This spectacular 12-layer chocolate-iced cake will certainly bring your family and friends to the table. It was a Smith family favorite, made by his mother (pictured) and grandmother, both of whom died of Alzheimer’s disease.

“When we come together during the holidays, we remember my mom and grandmother,” says Smith, who is raising four children with his husband, artist Jesus Salgueiro. “We share. We cook. And we honor the memories of our family, who taught us what we know.”

Smith is working with the Alzheimer’s Association to raise awareness of the incurable disease and to promote gathering around the table in the fight to #ENDALZ. An estimated 5.8 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s. By 2050, that number is expected to rise to nearly 14 million.

“One of the hardest things with Alzheimer’s is trying to keep some normalcy of life, and getting together for meals can help. They’re the place we connect,” he says. “I lost two incredible people to a disease that we are still learning about. It doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t give up. So we can’t either.”