Ahu Hettema & Nili Yildirim

Ahu Hettema & Nili Yildirim

Istanbul Hawaii emerged from a profound journey of resilience and inspiration. A decade of separation from her homeland of Turkey, due to immigration challenges, left chef Ahu Hettema in the depths of despair. In this moment of darkness, her mother Nili Yildirim, a...
Melissa Miranda

Melissa Miranda

Melissa Miranda is the owner of Musang, a Filipino restaurant and community space that opened in Seattle’s Beacon Hill neighborhood in January 2020. Miranda attended culinary school and worked in kitchens in Florence, Italy, before cooking for two years in New...
Colin Sato

Colin Sato

Born and raised in Hawaii, Colin Sato is one of Honolulu’s most exciting culinary talents, celebrated for his refined technique, local sensibility, and innovative approach to fine dining. A Saint Louis School graduate, Sato began his journey in hospitality as a...
Danny Lee

Danny Lee

Danny Lee was born in Washington, DC, and still calls the region home.  In 2006, Lee and his mother, Yesoon, decided to open Mandu, DC’s first full service Korean restaurant, near Dupont Circle. Five years later, the family opened a second location in DC’s Mount...
Brady Ishiwata Williams

Brady Ishiwata Williams

Brady Ishiwata Williams is the chef and owner of Tomo, a Japanese-ish restaurant in Seattle’s vibrant White Center neighborhood. Williams opened Tomo in 2021 with his partner, Jessica Powers, to national acclaim, landing on Esquire’s Best New Restaurant list and...